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Author Topic: Caps - when to change 'em; when to leave well enough alone  (Read 2036 times)

Andrew Hamilton

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Caps - when to change 'em; when to leave well enough alone
« on: March 11, 2009, 01:06:04 AM »

If a capacitor is known to be old but still measures within tolerances, is there any reason to change it?  Is there some other property that can be measured with a tool, or is it actually worth daisy-chaining together a long chain of the same brand of cap just to see which chain sounds the least bad and then go with that? (I read someone recommend doing this, once.)  I've had a cap behave erratically that measured fine with a capacitance meter but in the circuit was squirrely.  Replacing just the cap restored order in the device, but the cap was not leaky shorted or open (42k out of 47k
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Jakob Erland

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Re: Caps - when to change 'em; when to leave well enough alone
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2009, 01:26:17 AM »

You may need a ESR-meter - for measuring series resistance?

Jakob E.
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Mike Cleaver

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Re: Caps - when to change 'em; when to leave well enough alone
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2009, 01:52:49 AM »

I've always been of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it school."
Capacitors that are failing can induce hum in the power supply and affect frequency response in audio circuits, usually lows and/or highs disappearing.
If replacing the cap fixes the problem, throw away the old one and don't worry why it's not working.
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Jim Williams

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Re: Caps - when to change 'em; when to leave well enough alone
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2009, 10:19:56 AM »

I'm of the school of break it and then fix it. Modern capacitors are as advanced as your G5 is over an Apple II. They last longer, have reduced losses and pass higher frequencies better.
Refitting any older piece with the modern formulations will improve the audio transfer and if applied to the power supply, reduce hum levels as well.
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