Capacitor Leakage, and ESR Explained

[Yorkie]

The capacitor reformer was originally in Radio Bygones, then later in the BVWS Bulletin. It's proved really useful and although I used two new 'back-to-back' transformers to provide the HT, a scrap one from an old AC radio would do the job just as well. You can adjust the voltage is stages as reforming progresses and the leakage (hopefully!), falls, until you reach the rated Voltage up to 500V, and you can limit the current too. There's a series neon to check the leakage of non-electrolytic caps too at their rated voltage, though of course, you can't reform non-electrolytics. You can also discharge the cap before disconnecting to make it safe.

I wrote it up in this thread:

http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/...hp?tid=620&highlight=Capacitor+Reformer

The 500V digital meter is still available at the same link for less than a fiver, post free, from 'Asia Engineer' who I've used several times and found to be excellent.

As to Dymo labels, the modern ones (rather than the original embossed ones), make a reasonable job for those such as myself who are lacking in CAD skills to make professional looking front panels. I don't try to make my homebrew stuff look 'professional' - my aim is to make it to a good home-brew standard as good as I can, with the skills that I have. More years ago than I care to remember, I used to used Letraset rub-down transfers which need a protective coating of varnish. I once laboriously made a front panel for a frequency counter, and was a bit too enthusiastic with the aerosol spray varnish, the result being that the letters floated around and I had to make the panel again.