question regarding electrolytic capacitors

[zzmoore]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

The component numbers on your board don't jive with the component numbers on your schematic...that was confusing. I believe what is C28 on your board, is c36 on the schematic. If that is the case, it looks to be part of the switching circuit. If you can, maybe test that transistor (TR1 on the board & schematic) before you replace the cap. Otherwise, replace the cap and see what happens!

Have not looked at the schem...but I would say put a meter on any device in line with that cap. As BrianS says above....especially any of the SS components.
best

 

[Tallwood13]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

Yeah I've got a multimeter and I'm good with a soldering iron , I've done the Jimmy Page wiring amongst other things. I'm always trying out new things in my guitars so my friend brought over this marshall and I said what the hell I'd try it out. Took me a while to get back to this thread because I was waiting on the capacitor.

So I changed the capacitor myself in it and it sounds strange to me. Like my 15 watt marshall MG15CD sounds way heavier and everything than this amp but of course it's two different amps to an extent right this is what we're paying for. I may have to do a youtube video comparing the two. It's extremely nasally. So my question is did I put the capacitor in the right polarity. I used the capacitor to the left as reference as I didn't take photos prior to it (bad mistake) but I realized that the capacitor to the left was soldered in the same way , positive on the top , negative on the bottom so I soldered it in and it sounds strange to me.. maybe it's just a bad sounding amp? I mean it holds the distortion now.

I'm KIND OF hoping as cynical as it sounds that if the capacitor was in the opposite way that it would not work and it's just a bad sounding amp , so hopefully this is the case

thanks for all the responses while I was away from the forum they are appreciated.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

1. Don't bother with a swap. Just replace part-for-part. The one you linked to is fine, but you can probably find it cheaper on Mouser.

2. Puffy/swollen/fried electrolytic caps are just something that happens sometimes. It's a very common thing for Taiwanese caps made from 2000 - 2005 (look up "Capacitor Plague" if you're interested), but it can happen to any of them. I wouldn't be concerned about the health of the amp as a whole.

3. Ignore everything MetalManiac says, except the part where he says he doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

1. Don't bother with a swap. Just replace part-for-part. The one you linked to is fine, but you can probably find it cheaper on Mouser.

2. Puffy/swollen/fried electrolytic caps are just something that happens sometimes. It's a very common thing for Taiwanese caps made from 2000 - 2005 (look up "Capacitor Plague" if you're interested), but it can happen to any of them. I wouldn't be concerned about the health of the amp as a whole.

3. Ignore everything MetalManiac says, except the part where he says he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Thats not fair man,Ive done a lot of research on caps. I'm currently restoring about 5 grand or more worth of vintage tube amps and Ive been on ampgarage asking questions about caps, so I don't actually know nothing, Ive got tons of notes on caps, what is it you think I'm so ignorant about ? I know more than you I bet by now on the different caps . Tone caps make a difference and other are some differences in the older caps, and the newer ones.

 

[Tallwood13]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

well at this point if I'm getting the right sound out of the capacitor I'm happy. Once I get my answer i'll keep this thread open and see where it goes.

getting back to business. If I have the capacitor in backwards which I'm assuming it isn't will I get any strange sounds? I've never tried this amp prior to getting the cap ordered and me installing it. To me it's kind of nasally and so forth , I'll do a youtube video if people want. It's the most nasally sounding with the gain settings very high as opposed to say putting gain to 10 on a Line 6 product or my other solid state MG15CD (beginner amp I use for wiring guitars) or is this just a part of the valvestates sound? because if so it's going.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

I did not read all of your post...but Elytics typically blow if they are installed reverse polarity...they do not function, "but sound bad" ...if you know what I mean.
Did not look at the schem, but in your picture there is a Transistor and an IC...if those are inline with that cap when it blew, they well may have been damaged. Those parts are susceptible to static discharge and can be wrecked kind of easily.
best

 

[BrianS.]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

If you look at the schematic, you will see that your cap is part of a switching circuit that controls IC2 & IC3. Now, I'm not an expert on solid state amps, but the cap you replaced shouldn't affect the tone of the amp.

Your board also tells you which way to put the cap in. Put the positive side in where that big plus sign is located.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

If you look at the schematic, you will see that your cap is part of a switching circuit that controls IC2 & IC3. Now, I'm not an expert on solid state amps, but the cap you replaced shouldn't affect the tone of the amp.

Your board also tells you which way to put the cap in. Put the positive side in where that big plus sign is located.

To the OP....I would start by just reading this guys posts. Follow his lead, if that does not clear up your troubles...report back.
best

 

[Tallwood13]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

Correct it's right on the board , think it's fixed , like the distortion works again which I started say 9 hours ago.

What was weird about this is that there is no indication on the capacitor which is positive and negative. I used a capacitor going the same way as reference. And if left to right (way the words are going on it) I'm set. Hoping it's just a really bad sounding amp and it works perfect. Tried a bunch of different guitars and can't get any sound I like. The capacitor is a 2.2uf 0k0 philips 63v electrolytic one like the ones made in Austria. This is what I got and worked with
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/10pcs-PHILIP...Axial-HiFi-Audio-Capacitors-NOS-/321337094523


But like I said before and got zero responses from ... assume the capacitor is in backwards , will I get any difference in sound? you know like out of phase vs regular wiring on pickups or will the cap not produce any sound and just heat up and burst? I get this answer I'm happy and can close this post.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

But like I said before and got zero responses from ... assume the capacitor is in backwards , will I get any difference in sound? you know like out of phase vs regular wiring on pickups or will the cap not produce any sound and just heat up and burst? I get this answer I'm happy and can close this post.

Most electrolytics, including yours, are polar, which means electricity only flows through them in one direction. If you install it the wrong way, it will be as though the cap isn't there.

I don't know about heating up and bursting ... that depends how much current is hitting it. Most likely nothing will happen.

 

[Hank-]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

Agree with the above, I'll add though that i've installed electrolytic caps backwards before & blown a fuse. Those were meant for supply filtering though on a SS practice amp. As to the question of getting a bad tone, well the circuit itself should not work if the cap is put backwards.

Anyways, when you removed the old cap, did the circuit board have anything printed underneath it?

The Ebay link of the TS containing the pic of the blue capacitor, look at the area where it says Philips & a black line is printed in the pic(right side of the pic), the terminal after/following the black line is the negative terminal of that philips cap. If still in doubt google axial electrolytic capacitors images, your polarity doubt will be cleared.

 

[Tallwood13]

Re: question regarding electrolytic capacitors

thanks a lot Hank I finally got my answer. I'm happy to close the thread now.