05-10-2026, 10:40 AM
Mike and Dale,
I thank you for your grace in answering the question. I have a clearer understanding of how the capacitors fail. I'm surprised to see how few hours we are to expect from even new electrolytic capacitors - yikes, I'd have thought we'd be further along than that now. Obviously, they are not necessarily running at full bore all the time, but still.
I suppose I had taken a narrower view of "shotgun" thank Mike's, which is why I asked about people's definition of that term.
I understood (prior to asking the question) that for restoration, we NEED to change, at a base level, both electrolytic and paper capacitors and resistors that are out of tolerance and that we DO NOT change Mica capacitors and as well as resistors that test, out of circuit, within 20% of intended value. I had taken shotgun to mean replacing all of the components in the NEED category in one fell swoop without diagnosis or testing, which while accomplishing the needed replacements might allow the introduction of a fault (e.g., bad solder joint), and would then be harder to identify/track down, down the line rather than if done in small increments between tests. My definition did not include replacing components in the "don't replace" category, hence, why definitions are important.
So, yes, I agree, and it is what I did on my Philco radio before: ensure all electrolytics and paper capacitors, at a minimum, will be replaced before any testing on power. This will, without fail, be my process going forward.
Mike, I will say that I'm a little surprised if this response is you being "blunt". I don't know your full story, but my wife is Romanian having worked with many different eastern Europeans over the years (mostly south-eastern), one thing I know is that they know how to be blunt. This was downright polite. And Dale, agreed about understanding the experience level, but unfortunately there are many examples of people "doing things" on the internet which is the primary resource I would say most of us new to this interest have, and credentials are not necessarily obvious or readily identifiable, which is why, when a discrepancy comes up between the practices of different individuals arises, I ask the questions.
I will try the phono input test as suggested by MrFixr55 and report back for any further guidance/clarification.
Best wishes,
Roy
I thank you for your grace in answering the question. I have a clearer understanding of how the capacitors fail. I'm surprised to see how few hours we are to expect from even new electrolytic capacitors - yikes, I'd have thought we'd be further along than that now. Obviously, they are not necessarily running at full bore all the time, but still.
I suppose I had taken a narrower view of "shotgun" thank Mike's, which is why I asked about people's definition of that term.
I understood (prior to asking the question) that for restoration, we NEED to change, at a base level, both electrolytic and paper capacitors and resistors that are out of tolerance and that we DO NOT change Mica capacitors and as well as resistors that test, out of circuit, within 20% of intended value. I had taken shotgun to mean replacing all of the components in the NEED category in one fell swoop without diagnosis or testing, which while accomplishing the needed replacements might allow the introduction of a fault (e.g., bad solder joint), and would then be harder to identify/track down, down the line rather than if done in small increments between tests. My definition did not include replacing components in the "don't replace" category, hence, why definitions are important.
So, yes, I agree, and it is what I did on my Philco radio before: ensure all electrolytics and paper capacitors, at a minimum, will be replaced before any testing on power. This will, without fail, be my process going forward.
Mike, I will say that I'm a little surprised if this response is you being "blunt". I don't know your full story, but my wife is Romanian having worked with many different eastern Europeans over the years (mostly south-eastern), one thing I know is that they know how to be blunt. This was downright polite. And Dale, agreed about understanding the experience level, but unfortunately there are many examples of people "doing things" on the internet which is the primary resource I would say most of us new to this interest have, and credentials are not necessarily obvious or readily identifiable, which is why, when a discrepancy comes up between the practices of different individuals arises, I ask the questions.
I will try the phono input test as suggested by MrFixr55 and report back for any further guidance/clarification.
Best wishes,
Roy




