Caps that need reformed are garbage and should be replaced. If you've got DC on the outputs and you're cooking woofers there's a good chance that's the result of a cap leaking. My vote is recap before you're stuck replacing more woofers or transistors. They might have another 5 or 10 years left in them at best. Electrolytics aren't meant to last forever.
Need to recap my Classe Audio DR-8 Amps - need suggestions
I recently purchased two Classe Audio DR-8 amps. The amps were barely used and are in mint condition, but I think I need to have them recapped due to being over 20 years old. I am guessing Classe Audio would be the best place to have the amps recapped, but I am not sure. Any suggestions where to have the amps recapped and what I should expect to pay?
Also should I recap my DR-5 pre amp?
Thanks.
Also should I recap my DR-5 pre amp?
Thanks.
Showing 4 responses by kosst_amojan
That sounds very foolish and it's a great way to fry diodes, rectifiers, and transistors. The only way to fully reform a capacitor is to remove it, put it on a high voltage leakage tester, and watch the leakage drop off as you progressively ramp up the voltage to it's rating. That's impossible to do in circuit. Doing what you suggest would, at best, reform them to their idle voltages and no more. Even if it were a good idea, which it isn't, you'll never reform them to their ratings and you'll only end up with a unit that's just barely on the edge of leaking. Since the only way to do the job "right" (if there is such a thing) is to remove them, you might as well replace them. |
Any tech that would offer to reform caps, ESPECIALLY in the unit, is truly incompetent. I've explained exactly why it's pure stupidity. Even if it wasn't a great way to destroy your gear, it's impossible to attain the leakage characteristics at the intended values. Theres the right way and the wrong way, and reforming rotting caps is always the wrong way. |
If anybody wants to see what it takes to actually test and reform caps click this link and go to time stamp 41:35. https://youtu.be/5tDCQDdilCo There's no way to do it in circuit. |

