Grainger's Fast Break In Method for Caps

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Deke609

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on: January 13, 2019, 05:07:13 AM
There are a number of references to Grainger's method on this forum, but the links are broken.

Here is a working link to Grainger's post on the now-archived Audio Asylum Bottlehead forum: https://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=bottlehead&n=134386&highlight=fast+break+in&r=&search_url=/cgi/search.mpl

Does anyone know whether multiple caps can be broken in at the same time using Grainger's method by putting them in either parallel or series?

Edit: fixed and tested the wonky link - it should now work.

cheers,

Derek
« Last Edit: January 13, 2019, 02:32:29 PM by Deke609 »



Offline Karl5150

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Reply #1 on: January 13, 2019, 01:33:30 PM
Don't remember the specifics of Grainger's method. I insert 1 in each channel of the + speaker line of the garage stereo, tune to static (?) and let it play for 3-4 days.

Karl
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Deke609

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Reply #2 on: January 13, 2019, 02:16:58 PM
What about breaking in multiple caps at the same time on the same line? What would be better for break-in, in series or in parallel?

I'd like to experiment with different values of output caps by building a switchbox of different values of already broken in caps for quick comparisons.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2019, 02:23:38 PM by Deke609 »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: January 13, 2019, 02:19:14 PM
or in parallel?
Amplifiers that aren't unconditionally stable won't be very excited about having a cap connected across the speaker terminals. 

Any of the Bottlehead tube power amps won't mind this though.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Deke609

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Reply #4 on: January 13, 2019, 02:30:54 PM
Thanks PB.  So, do think in parallel is better than in series for break-in? Or did you simply mean to highlight the potential risks of going parallel with other amps?



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #5 on: January 13, 2019, 03:09:09 PM
Highlighting the potential risks.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline Paul Joppa

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Reply #6 on: January 13, 2019, 03:23:51 PM
Since nobody knows for sure how break-in works for caps, the only way to tell whether series or parallel is better would be to do the experiment. I am not aware of any documented results from such an experiment.

That said, I will speculate that you need AC current, the more the merrier, so I'd put them in parallel so each cap sees the highest voltage (and carries the highest current) possible.

Paul Joppa


Deke609

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Reply #7 on: January 13, 2019, 03:36:37 PM
Many thanks PJ.