Zenith 5S119 Antique Radio | P3 How To Replace Wax/Paper Caps

[@bobyk87]

Holding the breath helps during such surgeries, cause it's easy to damage fragile little old tech. Thanks for the tricks and practical knowledge.

[@levi2bear]

Outstanding video presentation, once again illustrating Mr. Condensers excellent teaching style.

[@FluxCondenser]

Many thanks!

[@jstrano1978]

I just want to say that this was an amazing tutorial! I just took possession of my Grandmother’s Zenith 5G500. It still works, but I’ve heard that the caps can be an issue. I will definitely be checking out your other videos!!

[@FluxCondenser]

Thanks, jstrano. Glad you found it helpuful.

[@michaeltardi3179]

Thank you. Excellent video.

[@gotolunch]

excellent video. however the audio level is too low.

[@abdelkhaleqqady7754]

Just wanted to know from where or site you bought the caps assortment, having a lot of old radios needs caps, very amazing, thanks

[@FluxCondenser]

There are lots of sources, but for antique radios, check out justradios.com Good luck!

[@SuperFredAZ]

Wave trap looks like a series resonant circuit to 'short the offending frequency to ground.

[@gerryroberts662]

I bought a used radio, some caps are bad in them, i want to restuff them or add fresh mineral oil to see if they would still work ??

[@IDPhotoMan]

New subscriber! Can i ask what brand of orange Film capacitors those are, and if you still use them (since this video is 5 years old)? I see SO many sketchy brands...

[@FluxCondenser]

I believe that batch were Cornell Dubliers. I still have a few left. Sketchy brands? That’s too bad. Where have you ordered from? Stick to Digikey and Mouser and you should be good. Avoid eBay.

[@IDPhotoMan]

@@FluxCondenser Still doing a bunch of research, just getting into repairing my old Zenith YT960, as well as a few other old 1940's radios. Looking on the web, i think i'll steer clear of the "500 capacitors for $20" deals lol. I have gotten Electrolytics through Mouser for my YT960, Amp is pretty simple, the big cans will be fun to do with new electrolytics. most of the TUNER caps Radial after watching multiple videos on doing the "splits" with them, and they're all high quality stuff. It's these paper cap replacements that i'm looking into now. Some are just crazy expensive, and some are so cheap, i'm surprised they don't just automatically explode.

[@samadams6487]

low audio starting at 10:37 to 12:34 have not checked the rest

[@davem147]

This man seems to know his stuff. I'd love to watch this video to the end, but his camera is so shaky, and the audio level is so low, it is sometimes inaudible. Too bad!!

[@FluxCondenser]

Thanks, Dave. Yes, you’ve stumbled onto one of my earliest videos. Not only was the camera shaky, but so was I! Please check out some of my newer videos as the audio, narration and camera-work have greatly improved over the years. If you’re interested in antique radios, I’ve got a whole series on them. It’s still from my “early period,” but the production quality on those is pretty good.

[@martymcgill1312]

Tripod??? I really tried watching but it makes ne dizzy

[@FluxCondenser]

Sorry, Marty, I absolutely understand. This is an early video of mine when I was just getting started. Obviously I still had a lot to learn about making a quality video. Please check out some newer videos on my channel. Lots of good content with ever-increasing production values.

[@martymcgill1312]

@@FluxCondenser It's okay man, I understand. It did make me dizzy though. LOL .. Cheers

[@charliehustle5529]

i am new at this but could any body tell me what i could sub a .005 - 650 volt capacitor with ?? .047 be ok i do have .0022 650 volt would that be ok ?? if any body would have a replacement chart for some of the odd capacitor values . that would be a big help .

[@FluxCondenser]

Hi, Charlie. The modern equivalent for a .005 uF capacitor would be a .0056 uF. A .047 cap would be a modern replacement for a .04 uF cap, but too different in value to replace a .005 (mind the decimal point). Post WWII caps are rated with slightly different values compared to pre WWII caps. Most old radios aren’t terribly fussy when it comes to replacing the paper/wax or electrolytic caps. With paper/wax, try to stay within 10% of the original value. The same is true for electrolytics, but always size up, not down. With mica caps, though, you’ll want to stay as close to the original as possible. Voltage ratings for replacement caps should be equivalent or greater than the originals. Pre-WWII sized caps are also still available also. JustRadios.com carries them. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask for assistance any time.

[@waynethompson8416]

Curious...do you not have an oscilloscope ? You method of checking for the Outside Foil end of the capacitor would not work for me...I couldn't hear anything at any time when you were doing that. For me, the simplest method would be to connect the capacitor to an oscilloscope and check the amplitude of the signal induced by your hand, then reverse the connection and see if it got larger or smaller. Something I wanted to check with you....it sounded to me like you said it was fine to connect new replacement electrolytic capacitors to an existing defective can type capacitor. I must have misunderstood, because once the old electrolytic goes bad, it is in essence a resistor. Putting a new capacitor across that will simply put you back where you were with the bad one. I must have missed something you said.

[@FluxCondenser]

Wayne Thompson Yes, you can use the oscilloscope method to check for foil side as well. It’s really the same as using an audio input on an amp, but instead of hearing the hum, you’ll see it visually. I do occasionally find that I can’t hear the hum with some of the smaller mylars. When this happens I don’t worry about finding the foil side as it means the capacitor is going to be a poor antenna for noise either way it’s connected which is what we want. I would try the method with many caps. If you don’t hear hum with any of them, you may not have the volume turned high enough (make sure that when you touch the ungrounded input lead with just your fingertip that you hear the distinctive buzz). When holding most caps connected to an audio input, hum should absolutely be detected. Make sure that you’re only holding the body of the cap as well and not the leads. It could also be that the frequency of the hum (it’s more of a buzz, really) is one that your ears are not sensitive to. If that’s the case, the oscilloscope method would work better for you. I would absolutely never recommend bridging a new capacitor with an old one. As you say, this will just lead to trouble. The old caps need to go. With difficult to reach capacitors it’s OK to cut the old cap out and leave the leads in place, though, to have an easier point to solder the new cap to. The only exception to removing caps is with large aluminum can filter caps, which I like to leave on the chassis for aesthetic purposes. Ideally, I replace them with new cans, but that can get expensive. If I do leave an old can on the chassis, I make sure it is completely disconnected from the circuit and wire the replacement caps on the bottom using a terminal strip or other method. I’ve also removed the guts from old cans and “re-stuffed” them with modern caps. I think I demonstrate that process on one of my older videos if you’re interested in checking that out. Hope this helps.

[@waynethompson8416]

@@FluxCondenser , I have an additional issue with the audio method...I have Tinnitus. I hear irritating noise all the time...24/7! May you never have to put up with this crap. You mentioned that you had watched some of "Mr. Carlson's Lab" videos. Did you see the one on the 1947 Rogers "Chairside" radio??? That is some radio! A lot of interesting stuff in that video.

[@FluxCondenser]

Wayne Thompson Sorry to hear about your tinnitus, I can only imagine how irritating that must get. I wondered if you possibly had a physical reason you weren’t hearing the buzz. I suppose it’s possible the ringing is masking the sound. I hope you’re repairing radios and can give yourself something pleasant to listen to instead! I’ve probably seen all of Mr. Carlson’s videos and think he’s one of the best. I also support him on Patreon and he’s assisted me a few times with questions.

[@waynethompson8416]

@@FluxCondenser , Thank you for your kind words of understanding. I have a couple of radios that I am eager to start on, but can't until after I secure a job and have the funds to purchase parts and such. They are 1920's era radios, Garod V Neutrodyne radios. I would post a photo of mine, but don't think that is possible on here. I posted a couple on Facebook , but until I get a page created for my website ( www.qsl.net/wb4rha ) that is the only place I have any up. The most difficult part is going to be finding new 01A vacuum tubes! Have a great week!

[@FluxCondenser]

Take care, Wayne, and be sure to let me know when you have your site up.

[@taddmapes9407]

Hi I am replacing capacitors in a stewart warner mod 1271 it has a 12 mfd 1000v paper wax capacitor I have not been able to find a direct replacement what would you recomend ?

[@FluxCondenser]

Do you have a schematic? If so, what is the part number? If you don’t have a schematic where is the cap located? I’ve quickly looked at schematic for this radio and see a .012 MFD at 1000 v, but no 12 MFD.

[@FluxCondenser]

Also, if it’s part number 25 on the diagram you’re referring to, the value is .012, not 12. This is a line to ground cap to filter noise, and, as it’s directly connected from the line to the chassis, this MUST be replaced with a safety capacitor and not a standard cap. Note that this will never see voltages as high as 1000v so you can use a 300 volt or higher rated cap there with no issues.

[@taddmapes9407]

part no. 83976 page 6-8 S-WARNER Vol VI John F , Rider .012 mfd 1000V

[@FluxCondenser]

OK, again, if that’s the one that goes from one end of the AC line to ground, you should replace this with a safety cap or remove it entirely. You only need a cap of that value that’s rated for 300 volts or more. A .012 safety cap rated for 300 volts should be readily available.

[@taddmapes9407]

@@FluxCondenser Ok thanks why did the use the higher voltage ?

[@samadams6487]

Reforming capcitors is definitely NOT recommended by Mr. Carslon of Mr. Carlson's Lab

[@bondjovi4595]

Just another fire hazard from another time. We are now in the age of, "Lithium Ion." A modern fire hazard.

[@johnbravo7542]

That strap around that cap looks ridiculous

[@OddJobFix]

I'm seasick.

[@ericklassen742]

Why you don't use a tripod and proper volume control is a puzzle to me. Like, don't you check your work BEFORE you post you video?

[@sootydave1]

Sorry but a little boring as you can not hear half of what you are saying. maybe later

[@edwardswearinger5048]

Still wept right hair

[@LouinVB]

New .05 caps available from Justradios. Wavetraps are useless in today's tightly regulated airwaves. You can live them in place for originality. I would not use old prewar capacitors even if new. Use only new modern caps.

[@FluxCondenser]

Who suggested using old caps?