7 Oct
2010
7 Oct
'10
8:47 p.m.
Does this apply to oil and paper capacitors as well?
If the innards are contaminated, it is possible. An example would be
the aforementioned paper Sprague "bumblebees" - more often then not,
moisture has penetrated the case and has compromised the dielectric.
You can safely use them at low voltages, as guitarists do, but at
rated voltage (200 to 600 Volts, depending on the type), they will
likely fail.
I am not so sure about oil caps - they tend to be pretty bulletproof.
Even when the seals leak, they still tend to be good at rated voltage.
It could be that the oil just keeps everything else out of the
innards.
--
Will