Safe Speed Forums

Would prefer not to go to RS (even tho there's a big depot only a couple of miles away), as they are in the "certificate of conformity " game ( and that rockets prices).Know there's one or two old radio/etc fans on herefrom previous .In amongst the things I brought from my late dad's was an old ( now known to be a Vidor ,circa1947) four band radio -a present to my parents from my mum's dad .It still works ,after a fashion -but has a fair bit of mains hum It's not rectifier valve -they had a spare ( courtesy of an old mate of mine & dad ,who used CV types ), but that's not sorted it ,so the smoothing cap ,massive brute -typical value ( from memory ) about 32 +16uF @ circa 350- 400 V DC is first suspect.Most probably the first section dried up and gone O/C .Am going to try a single HV cap accross the 32 to see if it cures it ( or stick my frequency reading DVM on the HT line to see frequency and DC volts),but does anyone know of a source of reasonably priced can types ,or alternatively ,has anyone any knowledge of sucess in reforming it )
( Would prefer to try and keep set as is ) .Was my mother's pride and joy -especially in the old days ,when the Short wave band took a hammering ,to make sure a certain lifeboat was still afloat ,with dad( not to mention all the other relatives/mates) aboard .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

This link any good ?,
http://markhindes.easywebstore.co.uk/Ra ... B2ZGE.aspx

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nigel_bytes

Vintage-radio.net might be useful. This thread http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36894 discusses repairing big condensers ((in the circs a more appropriate word than capacitor ).

This http://www.vintagehiwattrestorations.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=66 is an American site with some useful old stuff.


For general modern electronic kit CPC http://cpc.farnell.com/is a pretty good alternative to RS. It is the consumer arm of Farnell Electronics who are similar to RS in supplying the proffessional market.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

http://www.justradios.com/capacitors.html (USA) (cheaper)

http://www.audiocap.co.uk/dual-section-electrolytics-ft-18-c.asp

You could probably replace the dual-section with two electrolytics if a direct replacement cannot be found.
You can see the circuit diagram here, along with notes on fault detection/repair (scroll the page back one for the power supply circuit diagram)

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

From memeory many older T.V.s used to use 400 or 450v smoothers at 32UF or above. try also Wiltsgrove, CPC, Economic Devices (if still around) Charles Hyde and son (if still around) or you local TV repair shop to see if they have any really old TVs with the electrrolytics you require. I know a really old TV repair guy that has probaly got loads in his shed if you get stuck for finding any new ones.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Old electrolytics will probably display the same degradation that the installed one/s already display.
While it is possible that old capacitors will work their capacity will be downgraded.
They are, after all, rather like wet batteries.
Modern ones will do the job just as well.

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

Yep i must admit they do dry out with age, especially ones already used but I did think that if it is impossible to get a new one then my mate might have an unused old one.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

That's given me an idea -we've got a small ,sort of back street TV shop round the corner -had forgotton about it thinking more of on line sources -but he's a radio ham -so might just be worth a go .Maplin only do a 47uF in over 200v - years ago there used to be dozens of mail order electronics shops-even RS had one.
DCB -have seen that article -but the origonal is one of the big metal can type -FWI -chassis is similar to philco line up .

Annoying thing is that about 30 years ago ,I could have liberated a full set of valves and most capacitors from the works store .

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

maplins?


EDIT Sorry, just seen that you already tried them.

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I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

Yep -trying to remember some of those that existed many years ago ,before Maplins came on the scene .Think the little one man TV shop might be best ,unless a TV is ancient ( and the caps will suffer similarly) - Power these days is usually switched mode ,with smaller caps ,due to the frequencies involved ,especially since solid state dont need 250v DC or above . Although I'd be prepared to bet that that's just civvie stuff -and the Forces still use bottles in any stage connected to the outside world .

That hobbies branch of RS -found an old source in an old reference book -think it was called Electromail of Corby-but no trace of them, either on net or via Yell .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

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nigel_bytes

I doubt they have what you want but they are better than RS and Maplins http://www.rapidonline.com/products.aspx?

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

Thanks ,Anton - and the many that posted sources of caps(capicitors) .

I'm only intested in sources -my background ( not given to insult any coments ,but to stop assumptions of lack of electronics knowledge) -I'm an HNC/HND qualified radio /electronics/transmission engineer . My basic qualification was C & G radio & line transmission (which involved valves/valves & yet more valves,and valve theory).( Transmission engineers know ow to send up to 2700 phonecalls downone coax cable ,and how to send any thousand calls down one pair of wires using TDM )

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

[quote][That hobbies branch of RS -found an old source in an old reference book -think it was called Electromail of Corby-but no trace of them, either on net or via Yell quote] They stopped trading some years ago. I find that CPC is the best source - good range, reasonable prices, free delivery on £30+, and - best of all - a no questions returns policy.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Electromail was indeed, I think, the bit of RS that used to retail direct to the public. As far as I'm aware, it's dead now because anyone can just use RS. I used to have an electromail account some years ago.

Thanks-Mole .

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on