Bumble Bee capacitors: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Bumblebee.jpg | thumb | 300px | right | Bumblebee capacitors]] | [[File:Bumblebee.jpg | thumb | 300px | right | "Bumblebee" capacitors]] | ||
A variety of '''capacitors known as "Black Beauty" or "Bumble Bee"''' are found in much of the classic Tek gear. Some, not all, of these capacitors age very poorly, including shorting out, which can harm the surrounding components in a circuit. Many experts recommend replacing all Black Beauties with modern capacitors. Modern equivalents are not a problem to find. | A variety of '''capacitors known as "Black Beauty" or "Bumble Bee"''' are found in much of the classic Tek gear. Some, not all, of these capacitors age very poorly, including shorting out, which can harm the surrounding components in a circuit. Many experts recommend replacing all Black Beauties with modern capacitors. Modern equivalents are not a problem to find. | ||
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* The capacitor's equivalent series resistance (ESR) can increase significantly. | * The capacitor's equivalent series resistance (ESR) can increase significantly. | ||
[[File:Black Beauty caps.jpg| thumb | 300px | right | "Black Beauty" capacitors from original HV circuit in a [[585]] non-A scope (1960). These specimen leaked ~180 μA at 2 kV.]] | |||
[[File:cap-color-code.jpg | thumb | 300px | right | Color code]] | [[File:cap-color-code.jpg | thumb | 300px | right | Color code]] | ||
Each of these problems can be checked for using basic test equipment. It is time-consuming, but if, for example, one is determined to keep an instrument as original as possible, the following sequence of steps will find most of problems with black beauty capacitors. If, at any step, the measurements are bad, the capacitor is bad and it should be replaced. | Each of these problems can be checked for using basic test equipment. It is time-consuming, but if, for example, one is determined to keep an instrument as original as possible, the following sequence of steps will find most of problems with black beauty capacitors. If, at any step, the measurements are bad, the capacitor is bad and it should be replaced. | ||