UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Replacing polarised capacitors (condensers) for Pye Record maker

G8HQP Dave · 16th Aug 2019, 12:32 pm

It may help to be aware that there is a difference between bipolar caps and nonpolar caps. Bipolar caps (typically used in some speaker crossover networks) are basically polar caps which have been specially made so that they can be used either way round. Nonpolar caps (which most caps are) don't worry about which way round they are anyway.

Low value caps are likely to still be in good order, so no need to replace them unless careful fault tracing shows them to be faulty. Mid value caps may or may not be OK, as it depends on exactly which dielectric they used and how well they were made; leakage current is the usual problem. Larger value caps are likely to be electrolytic and may need replacing.

Do not be tempted to 're-cap' by replacing all of them. This is unnecessary, and can be a quick way to stop something from working.

16th Aug 2019, 12:32 pm	#5
G8HQP Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 4,872	Re: Replacing polarised capacitors (condensers) for Pye Record maker It may help to be aware that there is a difference between bipolar caps and nonpolar caps. Bipolar caps (typically used in some speaker crossover networks) are basically polar caps which have been specially made so that they can be used either way round. Nonpolar caps (which most caps are) don't worry about which way round they are anyway. Low value caps are likely to still be in good order, so no need to replace them unless careful fault tracing shows them to be faulty. Mid value caps may or may not be OK, as it depends on exactly which dielectric they used and how well they were made; leakage current is the usual problem. Larger value caps are likely to be electrolytic and may need replacing. Do not be tempted to 're-cap' by replacing all of them. This is unnecessary, and can be a quick way to stop something from working.