Quote:
Originally Posted by Tubejunke
Which Heathkit cap checker did you get? If it's a C3, then you will likely have to replace the 2 10mfd 500V filter caps and then you may have decent use of the leakage test function. The test voltages may be off depending on how much the resistors have drifted in the voltage divider, but again may still be used. You just need to know what voltages that the thing is putting out to test a given cap.
To get the Wein bridge working properly in order to measure capacitance value a lot more is involved, but realistically not many people are using these for anything but leakage testing which is a VERY valuable function. Cap values can be measured just as well or better on any DVOM.
If you got one of the later IT- models, then you may be ok to use as is if you bring it up slowly on a Variac. The latest and last to be made was the IT-28 which was made up to around the mid 70s. They are going for pretty hefty prices on praybay along with the older version which I forgot the model. I actually prefer the old C3s being much simpler in design and just as effective. The only downer is that the lowest leakage test voltage is 25V, but that is fine for any of the old stuff I work with.
Good score there and good luck.
|
The 25V panel label is a lie...The divider for that setting is 50V by design. Some owners modify the divider to fix it.
You can get lucky with the bridge. I was able to recap mine and get it fairly accurate on the cap scale (I never bother with resistance)...I did not have precision caps, but my university made a high accuracy RLC tester available so I simply brought a hand full of each value I needed and picked the closest testing ones.