SEMCORE RC 115 Capacitor Analyzer

[Tubejunke]

In my ever growing fondness for vintage capacitor "checker", "analyzer" or simply testers', I stumbled across this unit not by Sencore, but Semcore out of Puerto Rico. Though foreign made, it's certainly designed for the American market as a knock off of the ever popular (and increasingly expensive) Sprague TelOhmike units. Namely the TO-5 as far as function.

I actually got this and a Sprague TO 4 at the same time and frankly the Semcore has the Sprague licked hands down IMO as far as build quality. The Semcore is more compact and is built like a tank, where the Sprague is quite decent, say a few steps up from a Heathkit or any of their similar cousins. Some say the Spragues' are the Cadillacs' of analog bench analyzers, and they do pretty much cover every aspect of testing caps and/or reforming. I think I have already posted some rant on the current Ebay popularity trend driving prices through the roof. Give me the Semcore any day over anything I have seen yet!

For those not familiar with this type of tester; they are basically every way to properly test electrolytic caps for leakage at rated voltage up to somewhere around 500V(?). For all other non polarized caps, there is an insulation resistance test. All tests are read on a combination analog meg-ohm, volt, mill-ammeter. Also, there is a transformer turns ratio function, and finally a Wheatstone bridge to give the values of caps and resistors using the ever popular "magic eye" tube.

Units like this are to me at least pretty essential for anyone working with vacuum tube equipment on a regular basis. There are however much cheaper units available such as Heathkit C3 (most common) that frankly do less, but that adds to simplicity of use, lightweight and very compact. I have a number of these that upon recapping make great testers, again for not a lot of money. I sold several a year or two here in as found condition with no complaints thus far. I did ensure the buyers that the power transformers, switches and tubes were good. Beats taking a chance on a smoker from Praybay! LOL!

I have several more that I will be moving soon.