Hi guys 🙂
I just bought a General Electric tube radio for fifteen dollars at a thrift store. It was not in great condition and the electrical cord was cut off. I opened it up, and I saw that a component looked like it was leaking. Should I replace it before turning the radio on, and if I should, what is the name of the component? (It's the little component at the bottom left.0 Thx!
I just bought a General Electric tube radio for fifteen dollars at a thrift store. It was not in great condition and the electrical cord was cut off. I opened it up, and I saw that a component looked like it was leaking. Should I replace it before turning the radio on, and if I should, what is the name of the component? (It's the little component at the bottom left.0 Thx!
Unless you know the model of this unit and found the schematic, don't waste time trying to restore it.
Hello,
Yes you should replace it. It's a paper in oil capacitor, often called condensers back then. You will need to find the value marked on the outside of it. Something like .??? Mfd at a certain voltage. These are very common parts and easy to locate. I also see others that look quite old and original. And there is a very dark resistor above it in the picture that is unreadable being so darkened from heat and age. It may or may not be good. This radio has also been worked on because I see several newer style capacitors there with the brown and orange hard molded bodies. You should also have the tubes tested. Start with this, and good luck with it.
Yes you should replace it. It's a paper in oil capacitor, often called condensers back then. You will need to find the value marked on the outside of it. Something like .??? Mfd at a certain voltage. These are very common parts and easy to locate. I also see others that look quite old and original. And there is a very dark resistor above it in the picture that is unreadable being so darkened from heat and age. It may or may not be good. This radio has also been worked on because I see several newer style capacitors there with the brown and orange hard molded bodies. You should also have the tubes tested. Start with this, and good luck with it.
@HollowState
Thank you very much for that information. The voltage rating is 400 volts, and the microfarad rating is .50. Does that sound reasonable?
Thank you very much for that information. The voltage rating is 400 volts, and the microfarad rating is .50. Does that sound reasonable?
There is another matter here also. Please don't be offended. Because you didn't know what a a capacitor was there is a pretty strong possibility that you don't know a lot about servicing table radios like these. These radios work right off the AC power line without any isolation for safety. You'll need to replace the power cord which must be done with caution because polarity is very important. I highly recommend getting assistance from someone with knowledge and/or experience to help you with this.
@HollowState
You are right, I have very little experience with these old table radios. I know what a more modern capacitor looks like, but with these older parts I am still learning!
You are right, I have very little experience with these old table radios. I know what a more modern capacitor looks like, but with these older parts I am still learning!
Yup, sure does. Today's parts would be .47 ufd and 600 volts is ok. Just not less then 400v.
Hot chassis equipment is dangerous enough that discussion of it is banned on this forum. Y'all might want to reconsider this project.
All good fortune,
Chris
All good fortune,
Chris
Thank you for the head up! Before I get out of this discussion, one last piece of advice to OP:
Use a isolation transformer to work on it!
Good luck
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I don't see a 0.5 uF capacitor in the parts list - there are couple of .05s. Some caps are film, likely OK. But electrolytics and wax-coated paper have to go.
@Tom Bavis
I am confused, too. The capacitor in the radio physically says ".50 MFD" but I didn't see a .50 microfarad capacitor in the schematics. I only saw .05 microfarad capacitors.
I am confused, too. The capacitor in the radio physically says ".50 MFD" but I didn't see a .50 microfarad capacitor in the schematics. I only saw .05 microfarad capacitors.