- #1
workinprogres
- 21
- 0
Hey everyone, so I just bought a used GE Dielektrol capacitor rated at 40,000 volts and 1.85 microfarads, and while I'm charging it up there is a popping sound that appears to be coming from inside the capacitor. It only occurs at voltages over about 2000 volts and only while the capacitor is charging. As soon as I disconnect one of the charging wires it goes silent. I'm using a neon sign transformer driven by a variac and run through a bridge rectifier consisting of 12 kv diodes so there is a ground potential from the charging wires but I don't know if this would have anything to do with it. The capacitor holds a charge and has no problems discharging. Also the capacitance has also decreased since I bought it from 1.88 to about 1.54 but I think that may be due to temperature because it's been in my near freezing garage for a day but before it was kept at room temperature (about 70 degrees). I'm a little scared the the dielectric might be failing but I don't really know. Any advice would be helpful, Thanks in advance!