life span/failure rate of filter capacitors?
(And I assume that the filter caps are the large electrolytic caps with the screw in terminals?)
The reason I am inquiring about this subject is that I stumbled on to an older thread started by someone who had a "filter cap explode" inside his 20 year old Cary V-12 monoblock. (Which is basically what I have, only mine is a single stereo amp.)
Anyway, I do know the specs on those large caps with the screw in terminals which I am thinking are aka filter caps are 560uf 400v.
Do these normally give any kind of warning before they let go? It does occasionally blow the 3A SB AC power fuse on start up.
TIA for any information/advice on this subject.
@immatthewj - Yeah, you can have filter caps fail becuase of something else down the chain. Amps, because of the high amount of current, are particularly subject to all sorts of cascading failures. The other way can happen as well. Bad filter caps can fry the rest of the amplifier, or the main power transformer. Especially a bad thing with vintage amps that use transistors no longer made. |
Before 2000 I would have said that generally 20 years for filter caps kept warm. I think newer caps should do better, around 30, especially if high temp. Caps may bulge or leak before complete failure, or get unusually hit compared to their peers. Caps do sometimes go through poor quality issues which may cause premature faiure.
If in doubt have it recapped with the highest possible temperature ratings. More expensive, but higher longevity. |
