February 1969 Electronics World
Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Electronics World, published May 1959
- December 1971. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
|
Akin to how the
National Company
ran a long series (a couple hundred altogether) of infomercial type ads in the
ARRL's QST magazine from the 1930s through the 1950s, Mallory had its "Tips
for Technicians" run in Electronics World (and maybe other electronics
magazines of the era). Being a major capacitor manufacturer, its ads featured brief
tutorials on various types of capacitors, their characteristics, and how they should
be used in circuits - both for new design and when replacing capacitors in existing
equipment.
Here is a May 1967
Tips
for Technicians, a February 1969
Tips for Technicians, and a May 1969
Tips
for Technicians.
Why some filter capacitors develop hum and some don't.


Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are widely
used as filters in DC Power Supplies. This is because of their large capacitance
in relatively small size. All in all, they do an efficient job of reducing ripple
(hum) to acceptable levels.
However, all electrolytic capacitors are not alike. This is often why some types
seem to allow hum to rise to objectionable levels more quickly than do others. In
order to understand why, we must investigate actual construction methods.
As you know, electrolytics are basically made by depositing a film of aluminum
oxide on aluminum foil to form the positive anode. The oxide is the dielectric.
A semi-liquid electrolyte surrounds the anode and is actually the negative cathode.
In order to connect this semi-liquid cathode to a terminal, a second piece of aluminum
foil is used. This is often called the cathode, but it is not. It is actually only
the cathodic connection. (The preceding describes a "polarized" electrolytic capacitor.)
When high ripple currents are applied to polarized
electrolytics, a thin oxide film forms on the so-called "cathode". It begins to
assume the characteristics of a second anode. This in turn, has the same effect
as placing two capacitors in series. Consequently, overall capacitance is reduced.
Inevitably hum increases.
This action is especially noticeable in electrolytics which use plain foil as
the" cathode". This is simply because the oxide builds up over a relatively small
area.
Mallory avoids this problem by etching the" cathode" on electrolytics. As a result,
oxide build-up is spread over a vastly increased area. Therefore, ripple currents
are maintained at very low levels for very long time periods.
Of course etched "cathodes" cost a lot more to make. But you get them from Malloy
at no extra cost.
Meanwhile, see your local Franchised Mallory Distributor for capacitors, resistors,
controls, switches, semiconductors, and batteries. Or write Mallory Distributor
Products Company, a division of P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
46206.
Don't Forget To Ask 'Em "What else needs fixing?"
Circle No. 91 On Reader Service Card
