Restoration Commences on 1947 RCA Victor 721TCS

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by Tube TV

I don't know how I've missed this thread this long. It's been a good read though.

My 1954 Crosley is running on the original electrolytic cans. I tested them in 2006 and they all sections checked out fine so I never bothered to change them. I have no idea how many hours I have on that set, but it was used daily fom fall of 2006 to around 2011 and less frequently after that, and have had no issues with the electrolytic can. I tested it in the winter of 2015 while I had the chassis out working on a intermittent lose of horizontal oscillation and it still tested out fine. It's also running on the original selenium rectifiers too.

The electrolytics in your TV are nothing short of amazing, if they have lasted 67 years and are still going strong -- especially if the set was used daily from 2006 to 2011. In most TVs, these capacitors would have failed (shorted, leaky, etc.) by now. What is the secret, if any, to your set's original electrolytics having lasted this long?

That your TV itself is still working is amazing as well, especially after 67 years. Are you using this set as a video monitor for games, a computer, etc., or, if you are still watching TV with it, are you using a DTV converter or a cable box?

[Penthode]

It may appear unusual that the Crosley or RCA electrolytics have survived 70 years. I think it should be less surprising if the electrolytics are made by Sprague or Mallory.

[Tube TV]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

The electrolytics in your TV are nothing short of amazing, if they have lasted 67 years and are still going strong -- especially if the set was used daily from 2006 to 2011. In most TVs, these capacitors would have failed (shorted, leaky, etc.) by now. What is the secret, if any, to your set's original electrolytics having lasted this long?

That your TV itself is still working is amazing as well, especially after 67 years. Are you using this set as a video monitor for games, a computer, etc., or, if you are still watching TV with it, are you using a DTV converter or a cable box?

I used to use it for OTA TV back when analog was still on, then I switched over to just the VCR and DVD. I don't know what the secret is, I just let them charge on a capactor tester and bump the voltage up when they test no leakage at that voltage.


Most of my test equipment is running the original electrlytic cans as well and it's all 1950's early 60's gear.
The newest gear on my bench is a B&K Television Analyst 1076.

Sets I've pulled out of damp garages and basements seem to be the ones that have bad electolytic cans. They'll start gassing around the terminal pins. I guess the moisture gets in there with time.