• Capacitor confusion
    3 replies, posted
I was given a 1937 Watterson Model 650 tube radio. This radio could work but it isn't going to until I replace all the ruined paper capacitors. https://i.gyazo.com/e259da957cc0878d873306724b1a04db.png I can solder, but I don't know the first thing about capacitors. As far as I can tell, the capacitors in this circuit are: 1x .006 μF 4x .01 μF 5x .05 μF 2x 10 μF 3x 1000 μF 2x variable μF with unknown values I have been told I have to replace them with film capacitors and somehow "630v" got into the mix but I can't find 630v film capacitors rated for 10 or 1000 μF. Can anyone help me come up with a shopping list? I also have no idea where to begin guessing at the variable capacitors' variable capacitance.
Before you go further, you should be ABSOLUTELY sure you know what you're doing when working with tube electronics, especially things that have been plugged in recently. Charged high voltage capacitors can kill, and can hold that lethal charge for quite a while. If you don't know how to discharge capacitors and make them safe before working on a chassis, I'd highly recommend reading up on tube amp/radio safety. Voltage ratings shouldn't matter much with capacitors, as long as you don't exceed their rated voltage. A 1000v rated capacitor, for example, should work just fine replacing one rated for 630v. As far as the variable capacitor, those usually don't go bad. They're made up of two sets of metal plates that are very close to one another, and turning the shaft will move one set farther or closer to the other set, changing the capacitance. They're typically in the pf range, but you would need an ESR meter to be sure.
They are water damaged paper caps that aren't holding a charge whatsoever anymore but I do know how to discharge them from working on other tube electronics and will of course follow procedure for safety's sake. I have a nice tube tester as well that I used to go through all of the tubes in the radio, all of them test strong. I have just never had to replace caps before and don't know anything about selecting the right ones. Thanks for the info about voltage, I will stick to the high end where possible for safety. I haven't inspected the chassis itself in detail yet so I had no idea what variable capacitors look like (have never seen them before), but I do know all the others are paper caps and need to go. I'll save the variable caps for last.
If you understand what it means to arrange them in series vs parallel formation (on an individual replacement basis), parallel capacitors are additive. This means you can replace a 10uf with two 5uf in parallel formation.
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