To my surprise when I cut open this cap what appeared water poured out of can.
Never have run across such a configuration


xeric

Yes, wet electrolytic capacitors. They were the original power supply type of caps. See: http://www.faradnet.com/deeley/chapt_03.htm

Curtis Eickerman

Thanks Curtis, interesting reading.
I had the idea wet meant "soaked" not immersed
xeric

I have not opened one either. Then there are also oil filled capacitors, but they are generally lower value but much higher voltage ratings for very high voltage supplies (think kilovolts). They are typically square cans. I have not opened one of those either.

Curtis Eickerman

Usually the rubber seal beneath the vent cap deteriorates over the decades, and those
caps are dried out by the time we get them. Or, a poor service inverts the chassis, and
finds them piddling all over the bench! It was a borax solution, which is relatively harmless.

Pete