Hello, my name is chuck and I am new at this but I have Model 48-482 Philco radio. It currently plays but all the caps are leaking. I want to replace all the capcitors in it and wondered if anyone would have a list of what I need and where to buy them? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chuck

Your easiest would be to email Just Radios (look for their website) and ask them to quote a capacitor kit for you, giving them the make and model of your radio.

do you mean the capacitors are melting-leaking ?

and don't be surprised if you have to 'tweek' some of the values, that thing is full of .006 uF paper caps (I use .0047 to replace them)

To ictjayhawk

Thanks, but like I said I am just an amature. What do you mean by tweak? I know resistors have a tolerance but can you explain tweaking caps?

Thanks chuck

Reece,
Hope I am replying the correct way. Thanks a million. I have emailed them. I am not an electronics expert. Should I check all the resistors also?
Chuck

by tweek I mean find the closest practical value you can. thats why I use .0047 uF caps in place of the .006 uF caps

You can try to find some .0056 uf caps, but I haven't found any loss of performance in mine with the .0047's

Checking the resistors is always a good idea, but I haven't had much trouble in these sets.

A big note is that every schematic you will see has a 6SQ7GT for the detector/1st audio tube. Every 48-482 I have seen has a 7B6 in that location. they work the same but the connections are different, so make sure you hook things up at that tube the way they came out, not the way the schematic shows.

you can download the factory service information here:
http://www.audiophool.cjb.net/Philco.html

you get that going good and you will LOVE that radio. you will get FM stations on it that modern radios can't pick up without high dollar antennas.

edit: pall mall cant spall

Hey, now I understand. Thanks very much. All of you have been very helpful.
Chuck

You can check the resistors with your ohmmeter and see if they are within 15 or 20% of their marked value. Replace any that are outside of that. If resistors drift they usually drift high. When checking consult the schematic to see if there is a circuit to which the resistor is connected that could throw the reading off.

CHuck, I think the word tweaking is not a good description. To me at least, tweaking is "adjusting in small amounts".
"Tweak the screw so you get maximum signal" is an example.
As the new values of caps is different than the old standard values, you will have to find something close to the original as explained to you already.

As you are new, you should know that a leaking capacitor can mean two things. Physically leaking such as wax, or electrically leaking, where the cap is allowing signals or voltage to get by when it shouldn't. Or both.

I have a 40-180, and there is rubber insulation on some of the wires. If you bend one, the insulation will break off. If it has already broken off, exposing the bare wire, you should replace it.
I would suggest that you replace the filter caps first. Those are the large value caps and in a can on top of the chassis. Disconnect the original, leave it in place, then wire in your new filter caps.
Check your work 100%. Power up to test. You oshould have a playing radio. If not power off right away and recheck your work. At least you know where the problem lies.

If you have a working set, start to replace the paper caps one or two at a time, then test. Again, if you have a non working set, you know where to look.

Some of the guys that have been restoring for many years will replace all the caps at once. That's fine as they are careful of their wiring. For a new restorer, the other method works for now.
Go slow, and ask questions if you are not sure.
Good luck!

I did not know JustRadios.com offered that service. I order from them a lot but have always created a list of capacitors I needed.

Carl

Hi Gary,

Thanks that is great info. Having worked on pc's the last 20 years I always use the term leaking capacitor to mean that they are leaking wax and electrolyte. In pc's it generally means the cap is going bad or is bad. It really affects pc's in a bad way probably more than radio's. I don't know alot about radio electronics but I will take my time because messing up the circuit is not a good thing.

Chuck

Sounds good Chuck.

I've seen photos of PC caps where the tops have bulged up, or broken open. Those are obviously bad. The old caps can be deceiving, so it's best "when in doubt, change them out."

On the vintage caps, some new restorers say that the caps look like they are in perfect working order. (Ebay rhetoric) OK, sure they are clean, not leaking electrolyte or goo, and appear to be in 'good shape' physically. But, the inside could be in total failure mode.

I've dissected a couple of filter caps (for fun) that indeed were 'working', no hum at all.
Inside was the crusty white, dried electrolyte, some very pitted aluminum foil. This cap couldn't have lasted much longer.
Remember, this cap produced no hum at all.

I would say replace the capacitors that are leaking -stuff- because either they are 'leaking' electrically meaning there is internal resistance or a resistor in the same circuit is now a low resistance component causing high current and heat and needs to be replaced as well. it is always a good idea first thing to replace the filter 'electrolytic' capacitors if they are old. when they become a big fat resistor it causes all kinds of -stuff- like damage to the rectifier and transformers and things. if you have been in a PC replacing components you should have some soldering skills unlike my brother in-law. hes an expert