[sdiy] dangerous high temperature electrolytics ??

[J. Larry Hendry]

Jim,

You are certainly correct.  We use a lot of AC capacitors rated 10KV to 20KV
RMS on the power system, sometimes is large series / parallel arrangements
as leading load to correct for lagging inductive loads, and to compensate
for the out of phase current losses of transformers and lines (EM field).
Up until sometime in the 80s these things were manufactured with PCBs, as
were some small sized transformers.  Trouble is that the PCBs got into a lot
of other oils and ended up in other electrical equipment.

In the late 80s to very early 90s utilities replaced all PCB containing
capacitors and removed the PCBs contaminates from other equipment.  I would
say you might find the odd piece out there someone has overlooked.  But,
mostly that stuff is all gone.

Larry H


----- Original Message -----
From: James Patchell <patchell at cox.net>
And yes, they did at one time use PCB in oil filled capacitors...that I am
pretty sure about....just be careful of those 1uF 10,000 volt caps. :-)
-Jim