Hi Gus
I would not recommend taking all the valves out and running the radio on full mains. The HT voltage, with no load on, may over cook the smoothing capacitor.
I would advise adding at least a 50k resistor in series with the positive output from the rectifier so the electrolytic can reform in its own time rather than forced to reform with potentially 400 volts straight from the rectifier.
Monitor the HT voltage on the smoothing cap as well as its temperature as it reforms. The voltage will slowly rise as the capacitor reforms, if and when it is within a few volts of the output from the rectifier (the other side of the 50k resistor) then it has reformed quite well and should be ready for use.
Mike
I would not recommend taking all the valves out and running the radio on full mains. The HT voltage, with no load on, may over cook the smoothing capacitor.
I would advise adding at least a 50k resistor in series with the positive output from the rectifier so the electrolytic can reform in its own time rather than forced to reform with potentially 400 volts straight from the rectifier.
Monitor the HT voltage on the smoothing cap as well as its temperature as it reforms. The voltage will slowly rise as the capacitor reforms, if and when it is within a few volts of the output from the rectifier (the other side of the 50k resistor) then it has reformed quite well and should be ready for use.
Mike
