condenser test w/a light

1945 - 196*, Willys CJ series, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the post war jeep.®
Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:27 am

At the end of tcozier's post on fuel pump function, I brought up the idea of testing a condenser with an ice pick test light.
Science experiment is done and the result, forget it. Don't work !!
The idea seemed good when I suggested it but when I tried it, the condenser charged to quickly and there was way too little current flow before the condenser was fully charged and current flow stopped to get the light to even slightly blink. Even when I reversed the polarity on the charged condenser, still too little to fast. No Joy!!
Final decision. Only way this test would work is with a shorted condenser. Then the light will come on and the condenser is bad. Other wise, use an Ohm meter or a condenser tester for the test. Or just replace the suspect condenser with a new one.
Wolfman out.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB


Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16664
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Steve Webb » Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:29 pm

Probably the load the light bulb placed on it was too much. I read what you thought and it sounded interesting.Some people would call that a fail but I do not it is an idea that didn't work and something was learned from it. Of course I live where Thomas Edison had his winter home and he never considered anything he did a failure.
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:49 am

Thanks Steve !!
Don't think I have ever been compared to Thomas Edison before ! :D
Believe the phrase is, The only person who never failed, Never tried.
After the "science experiment" , I determined it takes voltage for what ever the light is rated, but also takes steady current flow to heat the filament and make it glow. In this case, the flow was only for the few micro-seconds it took for the condenser to charge, then the current flow stopped. No light. Just not enough time for the filament to get hot.
Wonder what Thomas Edison would think of L.E.D.s ??
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16664
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Steve Webb » Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:26 am

I think he would be o.k with them. Most are converted to DC by a driver and he hitched his wagon to DC. I do get riled about stuff not working being called a failure. Portland cement was one of his failures so not bad is it.
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

User avatar
YLG80
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4095
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:45 am
Location: near Namur, Belgium
Contact:

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by YLG80 » Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:18 pm

Wolfman wrote:
Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:49 am
Don't think I have ever been compared to Thomas Edison before ! :D
Believe the phrase is, The only person who never failed, Never tried.
After the "science experiment" , I determined it takes voltage for what ever the light is rated, but also takes steady current flow to heat the filament and make it glow. In this case, the flow was only for the few micro-seconds it took for the condenser to charge, then the current flow stopped. No light. Just not enough time for the filament to get hot.
Wonder what Thomas Edison would think of L.E.D.s ??
Between Edison and the LED's there is another forgotten inventor: Mcfarlan Moore
When I was young radio amateur, I've used his invention many times: the little neon lamp.
I guess it can still be found in many electronic stores.
It was a convenient indicator for power supplies and it was funny to detect HF power in antennas with little neon lamps as well as neon tubes.

Your idea is not a failure, it works very well with a neon lamp which has a much higher impedance than a filament lamp.
You need to be aware of the high voltage being used, but with this very simple tester you will be able to sort your bad and good caps.
Neon_Cap_Tester2.jpg
Neon_Cap_Tester2.jpg (162.89 KiB) Viewed 1404 times
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16664
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Steve Webb » Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:26 pm

Pretty effective for old school. Fortunately all my multi meters I use as an electrical contractor have capacitor test functions. I still have the old little cheap neon tester that I have used on knob and tube wiring to find the neutral. You stick probe in 1 slot and grab the other probe with your fingers. No light it's the neutral and if it lights it is the hot. Not a lot of old wiring down here but still handy just in case.
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

User avatar
YLG80
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4095
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:45 am
Location: near Namur, Belgium
Contact:

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by YLG80 » Sun Aug 26, 2018 10:05 pm

Steve Webb wrote:
Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:26 pm
Fortunately all my multi meters I use as an electrical contractor have capacitor test functions.
Do not forget that ignition caps placed across the points have a high voltage rating of 400-800VDC which cannot be tested with a multi-meter.
Multi-meters are good for tantalum or electrolytic low voltage caps.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:34 am

The condenser/capacitor tester I have came from Heathkit. And it was a kit. Don't think they are in business an longer. Had to be assembled from a pile of parts. It is pretty old but still works great. Like Yves noted, it has a red neon bulb that glows when the piece being checked is shorted. Also has a voltage selector so the piece can be checked for leakage at different voltages.
Also checks capacitance and Mfd. values.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:06 am

Wonder what the original plan was for Portland cement ???
Silly Putty was at first considered a dud. Wonder what sandy beach that inventor is sitting on ???
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

User avatar
YLG80
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4095
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:45 am
Location: near Namur, Belgium
Contact:

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by YLG80 » Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:33 am

Wolfman wrote:
Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:34 am
The condenser/capacitor tester I have came from Heathkit.
Could be that very good capacity tester :
heathkit_condenser_checker.jpg
heathkit_condenser_checker.jpg (89.94 KiB) Viewed 1372 times
Great equipment from Heathkit.
My first VHF transceiver was a kit from them.
And I remember the legendary HW101 HF transceiver ore the SB-101.
They were also selling a great grid-dip in kit.
The brand exists again, but nothing to do with what it was in the past.
Too bad... :cry:
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:18 am

Not exactly the same, Yves, but very, very similar. The large knob in the center is the same but the smaller control knobs are in different places. I noticed your call sign.
I started to get my license but did not follow through.
My father was Extra class, AA9LT. My brother requested and got his old call sign and is now K9QCB. Small world. :D
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16664
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Steve Webb » Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:58 pm

I used the wrong term for failure regarding Portland Cement. It was a way he saw to utilize waste from another process he was involved in mining/refining iron ore.

https://www.ics50.com/concrete-history- ... t-company/

Just like Henry Ford and Kingsford Charcol. These guys always looked for something to be useful.

https://www.kingsford.com/country/about ... HGJdZGD.97
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:03 am

Obviously, I need to expand my possibility thinking horizons, Steve. Maybe why I am not rich. I wasn't thinking big enough. What s the old saying ? One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Wonder how many know what a Grid Dip Meter is, Yves ? 8)
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16664
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Steve Webb » Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:11 am

Well I don't know what it is. Another statement attributed to Edison was "the only thing an inventor needs is a good imagination and a big pile of stuff/junk. My wife is glad we do not live on any acreage.
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

Wolfman
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6872
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:25 am
Location: Tipton,In.

Re: condenser test w/a light

Post by Wolfman » Tue Aug 28, 2018 11:58 am

It is a meter connected in between a transmitter and the antenna lead going to the antenna so the transmitter can be adjusted to get maximum output. That is pretty basic but there it is. Now you know, Steve.
Ft. Meyers. Dad used to live in Port Charlotte on the south side. Wind Mill Village. But that was before the hurricane wiped out the village.
Trivia.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB


Post Reply

Return to “CJ Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 45 guests