[Milsurplus] BC-348R Caps

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Joe,

My SOP on replacing capacitors of any type is statistical on a set by set 
basis.  If around 30-35% of a particular type (value, voltage and 
manufacturer) are bad, I stop checking and replace all of that type.  Otherwise I only 
replace bad ones.  Even electrolytics from the 40's and 50's are often still 
good, if you check them using leakage specs appropriate to the date of 
manufacture (if you use current specs, they wouldn't have passed the day they 
were made).  Typically in any given set, I'll find one or two types that end 
up all being replaced.  I've come across relatively few sets where all 
capacitors were bad.

In a message dated 5/24/2011 9:59:02 PM Central Daylight Time, 
joeconnor53 at yahoo.com writes: 
> I'm currently working on a BC-348R. I am in the process of replacing all 
> the .01/500V Micramold paper caps. I know what a bad reputation they have 
> and I replace them as a matter of routine.
> > 
> >I am curious, however, about the caps inside the detector, RF and antenna 
> boxes. They are .01/300v. According to the manual, they are mica, not 
> paper. They look much different than the Micramolds. (They're brown, not black, 
> and heftier and thicker than the micramolds).
> > 
> >Should I replace these mica caps as a matter of course or only if leaky? 
> They're inside the boxes so they will be a bit of a pain to get at.
> > 
> >As always, thank you for your help and your guidance. 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480