Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: gbeard on May 05, 2010, 05:53:45 pm
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With knowledge gained here and parts from Doug, I have finally replaced all the electrolytic caps and blackfaced my 1973 Pro Reverb. I am now ready to fire it up and have borrowed a Variac from work. What is the best method for conditioning the new filter caps? I have read Gerald Webers method which involves 12 hours at 40V then raise the level 10 V per hour for the next 8 hrs. The amp has not been turned on in years and it may do the tubes some good to be lit for a while but is this 20 hour process necessary?
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You just _replaced_ all the electrolytic caps, right? IMHO, there is no need to "form" them,
as they are new... fire it up, check voltages and bias. Personally I check voltage and bias,
then wait 20 mins for the amp to totally warm up (everything is warm) then check bias again.
You don't need to "bring it up slowly" unless you are trying to form old caps... and then,
I would ask PRR or someone about that process (or google it). Not very reliable, IMHO.
Just my $0.02.
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True, no need to form new caps. I would bring the amp up first with a light bulb limiter just to make sure there are no scary surprises hidden in the work you did.