Electronics Recapping Service

If you need some electronics or old HiFi such as vintage amplifiers recapped I can do this for you.

There’s a lot of old audio and electronic equipment still in service that’s often 40 or more years old so a recap might be a worthwhile investment in keeping it running.

Note – replacing every capacitor with the expectation it will fix a fault isn’t the correct way to repair electronics as the fault is often something else like a transistor or resistor etc. It’s better to get the fault repaired first to avoid creating an additional one!

I don’t just work on HiFi and audio so can recap power supplies in old home computers and gaming machines for example.

Items for recapping can be sent or dropped off to me in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.

The image below is a power supply for an old BBC Micro I recapped where an X2 capacitor (X2 is a special class of capacitor) fitted across the mains input had exploded.

Recapping a BBC Micro home computer as the X2
Recapping the power supply in an old BBC micro computer

It’s not unusual for old X2 capacitors to go into meltdown as they’re designed to go short circuit when they fail. That should cause a fuse to blow depending on where the capacitor is fitted.

If you’re in the UK and want some electronics repaired or recapped please contact me for a quote.

I obtain capacitors from authorised component suppliers such as RS Components, CPC, Farnell and Mouser to ensure you get a genuine part.

Alternatively you can provide me with a kit. Recapping kits are available for many popular electronic products. Be aware the kits might contain Chinese clones. They often don’t say!

Also, capacitors have a little mentioned parameter called ripple rating. Only the designer of the product knows what the specified rating should be as it’s not written on the device.

The above aside, providing me with a kit will be cheaper as it saves my time (often hours) creating a capacitor parts list and ordering them.

The photo below is of a new DAC board from China. I replaced all the electrolytic capacitors with genuine Nichicon ones along with replacing a couple of the heatsinks with bigger ones.

recapping an audio DAC with genuine capacitors
Recapping a DAC board with genuine Nichicon capacitors along with fitting bigger heatsinks

In the first instance email me about the required work, ideally with a photo of the equipment or circuit board along with the model number.

Items for recapping can be shipped to me from anywhere in the UK.

Why change the capacitors?

Electrolytic capacitors can fail, change value or stop working completely. Some fail with obvious bulges on the top or by leaking fluid all over the board while other faulty ones look perfectly fine. In certain cases they explode.

The issue with electrolytic capacitors is the electrolyte in them can dry out, leak out, or it’s chemical composition might change over the course of years. This will change the properties of the capacitor, especially if they’re fitted near a part that gets hot.

Electrolytic capacitors have a storage shelf life so if your amp has been stored in the loft for ten years the electrolytic capacitors might have become compromised.

Large and heavy capacitors usually found in power supply sections often have glue between the capacitor and circuit board to prevent strain on the solder joints and the component. The glue can take many forms and might look like a leaking capacitor when it isn’t.

The old glue can be incredibly tough. I replaced some capacitors once and had to use a scalpel to cut the capacitor away from it as they couldn’t be moved without risking damage to the board!

Single sided boards of the type found in both old and new audio equipment is flimsy so can easily be broken.

If all the big capacitors have the same looking ‘leak’ it’s probably glue unless the top is bulging and or covered in gunk.

Electrolytic capacitors fitted next to parts that get hot such as heatsinks or high wattage resistors are prime candidates for failure, especially older ones as they’re often only rated for 85°C. Modern capacitors can be obtained that are rated for 105°C.

Faulty capacitors in the power supply of audio equipment such as amplifiers can cause hum to be heard from the speakers.

Faulty ones in switch mode power supplies (SMPS) can stop the power supply from starting.

Electrolytic capacitors that are used in the power supply circuits of audio amplifiers don’t need to be ‘audio grade’ as audio doesn’t pass through them. They might even be a worse choice.

Non electrolytic capacitors are unlikely to need replacing as they’re of a completely different construction and don’t change value much if at all over time.

The exception to this are spark suppression capacitors that are usually fitted across the contacts of mains on / off switches. These old capacitors can burn out or get cracks in them making them dangerous and ineffective, so they should be replaced with modern safety approved X2 parts.

I use anti static mats and wrist straps to minimize the risk of static damage.

For a quote, please email me. I will need to know what the equipment is or send a photo of it.

Contact me by Email: orangevalleysystems@gmail.com