Capacitor tester box

[crosbyman]

The last Outboarder had a good article by William Mohat on how to build a capacitor test box.

I went ahead and built the simpler version out of the 3 suggested in the article and then proceded to test by “used caps” box contents . All showed failure on the (red) idiot lamp.

Testing involved voltages around 270 VDC generated from a voltage doubler using a couple of diodes, , .22uf caps , resistors and a main DPDT switch

I tried a brand new capacitor worried my test box was a bit overly critical … the new capacitor passed the test with 100 % success with the FAIL lamp staying dark.

The box cost me about 70$ CDN … a lot more than several new caps some would say but it was a fun , easy project to build and I can now be 100% when testing caps

no more swapping/junking caps for nothing 🙂

thanks for the article Mr.Mohat

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[jeff-register]

Crosbyman,
Can you referance the post by William? I’ve had fun with diodes too.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by jeff-register.

[crosbyman]

It was not a post it was a detailled AOMCI “OUTBOARDER” article with circuit layouts for 3 models of the tester.

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[jeff-register]

Thank you Crosbyman!!

[olcah]

Crosbyman,
I assume the Antique Outboarder magazine that you refer to is the October 2020 edition. Bill Mohat discusses condenser testers on pages 40 and 41 but darned if I can see the circuit layout for his home built neon tester (or any other). Can you set me straight? Where did you find the circuit layout?
Thank you.

[crosbyman]

Actually… if you read real closely, mr. Mowat invites (for safety reasons) able “test box builders” to write him a e-mail so he can send you a PDF file with all 3 designs.

I built the fix voltage one (approx 275 VDC with a few simple components). The two other models involve a more complex design and a more costly test box..

The basic model works real well and is recommended by Mr.Mowat . I have already identified a bunch of “presumed good capacitors ” now R.I.P. 🙂

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[olcah]

Thanks Crosbyman. I had already requested the PDF from Mr. Mowat but have not got it yet and wondered if I missed something 🙂

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by olcah.

[crosbyman]

how long ago did you write him ?? he seems fairly busy so give it some time I have waited a few days for replies 🙂

sorry for confusion I had wrongly remembered seeing the designs in the Outborder but actually wrote to him to get them .

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[The Boat House]

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• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by The Boat House.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by The Boat House.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by The Boat House.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by The Boat House.

[olcah]

I emailed Mr. Mowat about 3 weeks ago. If I do not hear from him I will try again after New Years. Good to hear that the tester works so well!

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