06-08-2013, 08:04 AM
Thanks for bringing up this topic. It always drives me crazy to see people replacing large can electrolytics with tiny modern replacements, with no consideration of the ripple ratings. Sometimes I wonder if we are replacing some of these electrolytics unnecessarily.
I recently bought a very inexpensive ESR tester and did a bit of checking.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300899052511?ssP...1497.l2649
Measuring some older used twist prong can caps from the 1950's and 1960's, I found that the original used caps had measured ESR's less than some of the modern replacements. It is not unusual to see some of these good quality caps still meeting original specs 50 years later.
At this point I am reconsidering routine replacement of electrolytics in equipment from the 1950's and newer if the capacitance, ESR and leakage measurements are still within original specs.
In any case, I would recommend anyone interested in checking their electrolytics to get one of these testers, as it is well worth the small investment.
I recently bought a very inexpensive ESR tester and did a bit of checking.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300899052511?ssP...1497.l2649
Measuring some older used twist prong can caps from the 1950's and 1960's, I found that the original used caps had measured ESR's less than some of the modern replacements. It is not unusual to see some of these good quality caps still meeting original specs 50 years later.
At this point I am reconsidering routine replacement of electrolytics in equipment from the 1950's and newer if the capacitance, ESR and leakage measurements are still within original specs.
In any case, I would recommend anyone interested in checking their electrolytics to get one of these testers, as it is well worth the small investment.
