Pilot Little Maestro.

[boater sam]

I can only refer you to the discussion on UKVRRR Trevor, but working on the principle that these new fangle X caps were not around when I started using dropper caps and I have had no problems with 1000v caps, I will stay with what I know.
Sam.

[pwdrive]

I wouldn't bother myself, I'd use a diode.

Lawrence.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Just taken delivery of another Pilot Little Maestro. A model T66 of 1953. For starters it needs those control knobs changing. This model does not have a separate waveband switch. To change wavebands the tuning knob is turned to the extent of each end of the tuning scale.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

I wouldn't bother myself, I'd use a diode.

Lawrence.

Diodes short out though Lawrence, one reason the bias on the frame output stage in some Thorn sets was derived from the negative supply on the heater chain. The resultant frame issue would hopefully make the viewer turn the set off.
TBH I'm a great believer in cap droppers and all my AC/DC sets are fitted with motor run cap droppers. Never had one failure yet, says he touching wood.

[pwdrive]

Crowbar.

Lawrence.

[Murphyv310]

Yes a crowbar is a good solution and just another diode.

[Geordie McBoyne]

The Pilot model T66 "Little Maestro" employs a mains transformer to supply the valve heaters.

Geordie McBoyne.

[boater sam]

Well done Geordie, let us all get worked up about droppers caps and diodes then drop the brick.

Its got a mains transformer!

Love it, discourse at its pinnacle.

Sam.

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Must be the super version of the little Maestro then.... All bells and whistles.

[Nick]

Over on another popular  forum the question of using X type caps as droppers has been raised again.
I queried this practice way back on this thread and appear to have been vindicated in my opinion that conventional high voltage capacitors were more suitable.
I understand that X types are made to fail o/c but the self healing properties will lead to a short operational life as droppers before the capacity is reduced to a low figure.

There's actually no requirement for either X or Y capacitors to fail in any specific way - both are used for EMI filtering - X capacitors are certified for use across the mains where their failure would not cause a shock hazard, but may prevent a fire risk - thus if they fail s/c, the hope is that some upstream safety device would fail, i.e. a fuse or breaker.

Y class devices are used where there is a shock hazard, i.e. from live to earth. The specifications for Y are tougher than for X, i.e. they should not fail, or at the very least, self heal. EN/IEC 60384-14-2 (2016) is the relevant standard document.

So, you can use Y capacitors in place of X (with suitable ratings), but not vice versa.