![]() ![]() Two of them are on top of the chassis in the large black “can” to the left of the intermediate transformer (when viewed from the back of the organ), four more are in the silver can to the right of transformer, three are on the wiring boards inside the chassis, and one is wired directly to a tube socket. There are a total of ten electrolytic capacitors in the AO-29 amplifier. However, minimizing the risk of damage to the tubes, especially the expensive 5U4 rectifier, makes capacitor replacement worthwhile. ![]() Since aging electrolytic capacitors tend to increase in capacitance, they become better filters, so that alone would not justify replacing them. A few other electrolytics are used throughout the amplifier to provide local filtering. Large capacitors are used to filter the pulsating direct current from the rectifier into something smooth enough to operate the rest of the amplifier. In the Hammond model AO-29 amplifier, electrolytic capacitors are only used for filtering. Part of the schematic diagram of the Hammond M-100 series, with the AO-29 amplifier and its electrolytic capacitors highlighted. Capacitors in the M-100 Series AO-29 Amplifier The corrosive electrolyte can damage wiring or the chassis, but more importantly, the sudden failure of the capacitor can cause damage to much more expensive components such as the vacuum tubes that are relying on it to do its job. There is also a risk of short-circuits forming, which can result in the capacitor leaking or exploding. ![]() The characteristics of this electrolyte change over time, potentially affecting the capacitance. An electrolytic capacitor is one where the insulating layer is porous and impregnated with an electrolyte solution (somewhat like a battery). Capacitors store electric charges and block the flow of direct current through them while allowing alternating current to pass. A capacitor consists of two electrodes separated by an insulating material (dielectric). However, one type of component that is prone to wearing out, regardless of how little or how much a piece of equipment was used, is the electrolytic capacitor. Rebuilding a Hammond AO-29 Amplifier from the Ground Up In September of 2016, I undertook a ground-up rebuild of this amplifier, as described in the following article: ![]()
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