[R-390] Fake Caps

[Tisha Hayes]

I bought an electronic suppliers inventory of Sprague Orange Drops by the
pound (+20 lbs of capacitors). There are just so many places you can squeeze
in a .1 uFd 600 V capacitor.

The nearest we have as a rotten cap is that 8 uFd cap in the audio deck that
leaks acid. Of course, finding an 8 uFd capacitor is a challenge and I
usually go with an 8.2 uFd at a higher voltage rating and squeeze it inside
the audio deck with longer leads covered in teflon spaghetti.

Since I also do SP-600's I replace a bunch of 10 uFd bathtub capacitors on
the B+ string.

I see a bunch of those SMD mounted caps that are programmed for destruction
in Motorola Spectra control heads and microprocessor boards. To replace
those I use a hot air station and desoldering wick.

What bothers me is that I do not know for certain that the SMD caps I am
putting back into the Spectras are any better than what I am taking out.
Maybe I am just resetting the 10 year time bomb.

In the SP-600's it is the BBOD's (black beauties of death) where there are
25-30 of those things hidden all over the radio. At the same time I replace
the paper caps and also up-cap the B+ supply to reduce ripple.

In the R-390A I do not know how many folks replace the octal plugged B+ caps
on the audio deck. Even getting a 40 year old NOS capacitor is not the same
as buying a brand new-new capacitor. Those are prime candidates for
restuffing.

TTY'all later, I need to catch a flight to San Jose.

-- 
Ms. Tisha Hayes/ AA4HA
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Factory certified interoceter repair center.
"Remember, use only genuine interoceter parts."
*
"Quaesita Marte Tuenda Arte"*