[K3PZN-List] High Voltage Capacitor Explodes - Fire and Smoke

[Curt Milton]

This is in the category of "have you experienced this"
and "what should i do now!" Clearly this is a hobby of
adventure even if your operating rarely leaves your
own shack ... 

Last winter I rebuilt the power supply section of my
HW16.  I got some modern caps that were checked out on
an Eico Cap Tester that evaluates leakage and
capacitance under operating voltage.  Rig had maybe
100 hours on it, or not much below that.  But hadn't
been used since early Spring.  

Picture this, XYL reading on family room sofa while i
am sitting a about 5 feet away operating ... after
nice QSO to a CT1 on 40m, i shift to 80m for a CW
ragchew.  After 10-15 minutes of QSO i see no plate
current, smell smoke .... i should have turned off rig
but i didnt.  i stuck my head to back of rig to see
what is happening (with key up ...) - BANG ... one of
a pair of 450 volt, 47 uF caps explodes and the paper
inside catches fire!  These caps are used in a voltage
doubler that feeds the final tube, and are equivalent
to the original caps. Very dramatic to say the least
-- singed lid of rig and took a couple hours to air
out the house.   Glad its not my only rig!  

Since I used the rig a bunch, i likely have everything
wired ok.  I do have ONE identical replacement cap. 
Maybe after a check-up we'll replace the exploded cap.
 I hope the transformer survived otherwise the rig is
gone .... suggestions appreciated as this sits near by
workbench for a while.  Maybe this cap didn't have
what it takes, or this cap style won't survive this
application!  

Stay tuned to see if this is the end to my nostalgia
experience!  

73 (especially to those brave enough to have tubes
glowing in their shack)

curt


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