Reforming capacitors (technical description, not politics)

[Robert Jarratt]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctech [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of David
> Gesswein
> Sent: 31 July 2015 02:52
> To: cctech at classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Reforming capacitors (technical description, not politics)
> 
> When I reformed the 1967? capacitors in MARCH's straight 8 I took some
data
> showing the improvement in leakage and also measured capacitance and ESR.
I
> couldn't find original spec for the capacitor but the values seemed
reasonable
> compared to datasheet for more recent capacitors.
> 
> Graphs here.
> http://www.pdp8online.com/shows/vcfe15/slides/PDP-8_Restoration.html

David,

>From the slides you posted it looks like you have some kind of automated set
up. Can you explain what you have there? The limited reforming I have done
has been done manually. I also notice that you reform over quite a few
hours, but those are big caps. Not sure I have seen any suggestions over how
long to reform for, and whether it is a function of the capacitor's nominal
capacitance.

Thanks

Rob