Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Mainline => Topic started by: Loquah on February 10, 2019, 05:29:07 PM

Title: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Loquah on February 10, 2019, 05:29:07 PM

Hi all, I haven't posted here in a long time because I have found total contentment with my Mainline setup. However, after hearing some distortion today, I went searching for the culprit and found some very shoddy wiring on a couple of ground wires (what was I thinking!?) That solved the distortion issue, BUT, in my search for a culprit I noticed that both of my output caps appear to be leaking. On both caps, where the lead exits (on both sides) there seems to be a film of some type of chemical residue that's spread out from the wire. I'll attach pics so you can see what I mean. Should I be concerned?

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Loquah on February 10, 2019, 05:33:24 PM

Having trouble uploading pics. Here's a link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tXBLnN7VC97udgDs6

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 10, 2019, 06:46:17 PM

I would get in contact with Audience to see if they've seen this before.

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Loquah on February 11, 2019, 02:16:13 PM

Thanks for the great suggestion Paul.

I approached the local Australian supplier first who got a response overnight from Audience. Here's what he / they said for anyone interested:

I’ve email the photos to Audience who make the Auricaps. They say:

“Auricaps are metalized polypropylene capacitors. There is no oil or any other internal substance that could leak. The capacitors in the picture are surely showing signs of aging; however, I would not worry about leaking.”

So I would not worry  about it.

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Doc B. on February 12, 2019, 09:51:47 AM

In other words, he has no idea what the discoloration is. My hunch is that a coating on the lead wire insulation is migrating out, over the surface of the epoxy end caps.

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Loquah on February 12, 2019, 10:43:32 AM

Just cosmetic and nothing to worry about then?

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Doc B. on February 12, 2019, 11:28:17 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. If I was curious about it I would go right to the manufacturer with questions rather than a retailer. John McDonald is a nice guy and I'm sure he would be willing to allay your concerns.

Title: Re: Capacitor leakage? Help required please
Post by: Loquah on February 13, 2019, 10:38:31 PM

Thanks Doc. So long as it continues to sound sublime I'm happy  ;D