Hammond Capacitors

[crosstowndude]

Hello
I'm planning on doing a tone generator clean on my L100 and was just wandering how one goes about discharging the capacitors. It seems that whenever this is brought up on other hammond forums the responses are mainly 'stop what you're doing if you don't know how to discharge'.
</p>

So I'm asking all you hammond owners, what methods do you use to discharge the tone generator capacitors. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm not looking to die at 18 and I do want to give it a good clean without going to an expensive technician. (The prices here in the UK are astronomical compared to those of the US).</p>

Just so you know, i'm not a complete newcomer to hammond servicing. I did the whole busbar treatment to get the hammond sounding more consistent so I think I'm ready to delve a little deeper. Just need this little bit of information.</p>

Thank you in advance</p>

[geoelectro]

Re: Hammond Capacitors

[quote user="crosstowndude"]

Hello
I'm planning on doing a tone generator clean on my L100 and was just wandering how one goes about discharging the capacitors. It seems that whenever this is brought up on other hammond forums the responses are mainly 'stop what you're doing if you don't know how to discharge'.
</p>

So I'm asking all you hammond owners, what methods do you use to discharge the tone generator capacitors.</p>

Just so you know, i'm not a complete newcomer to hammond servicing. I did the whole busbar treatment to get the hammond sounding more consistent so I think I'm ready to delve a little deeper. Just need this little bit of information.</p>

Thank you in advance</p>

[/quote]</p>

Well, if you think the generator capacitors need to be discharged before servicing it then...yes, you are a newcomer.</p>

The capacitors that need to be discharged are only in the power supplies. They have very high voltage on them when on. Actually, if the instrument is operating properly and run for some time and then turned off, all lethal voltages would normally discharge in less than a minute. However, if something is broken, it's possible for these voltages to stay up with no path for discharge. This is not normal but for the sake of safety, you are always told to make sure these high voltage capacitors are discharged.</p>

That said, there are absolutely no voltages on the generator caps. Not even when it's on! </p>

George (support your local tech!)
</p>

[toasterDude]

Re: Hammond Capacitors

[quote user="crosstowndude"]


Hello I'm planning on doing a tone generator clean on my L100</P>


[/quote]</P>


Huh?[:^)] Why? I've seen Hammonds with incredible dirt, spiders, mice, water damage, and damage from moving improperly... and I've never seen one that needed to have the tone generator cleaned. If you're having problems with uneven sound, your first course of action should be to spray every connection you can find with contact cleaner (like DeOxit): RCA plugs, Molex connectors (those little rectangular white plugs, like yousee inside computers), tube sockets - everything you can reach. As long as the tone generator is oiled, it shouldn't need any further attention except in extreme circumstances.</P>

[crosstowndude]

Re: Hammond Capacitors

[quote user="geoelectro"][quote user="crosstowndude"]

Hello
I'm planning on doing a tone generator clean on my L100 and was just wandering how one goes about discharging the capacitors. It seems that whenever this is brought up on other hammond forums the responses are mainly 'stop what you're doing if you don't know how to discharge'.
</p>

So I'm asking all you hammond owners, what methods do you use to discharge the tone generator capacitors.</p>

Just so you know, i'm not a complete newcomer to hammond servicing. I did the whole busbar treatment to get the hammond sounding more consistent so I think I'm ready to delve a little deeper. Just need this little bit of information.</p>

Thank you in advance</p>

[/quote]</p>

Well, if you think the generator capacitors need to be discharged before servicing it then...yes, you are a newcomer.</p>

The capacitors that need to be discharged are only in the power supplies. They have very high voltage on them when on. Actually, if the instrument is operating properly and run for some time and then turned off, all lethal voltages would normally discharge in less than a minute. However, if something is broken, it's possible for these voltages to stay up with no path for discharge. This is not normal but for the sake of safety, you are always told to make sure these high voltage capacitors are discharged.</p>

That said, there are absolutely no voltages on the generator caps. Not even when it's on! </p>

George (support your local tech!)
</p>

[/quote]</p>

I feel a bit stupid now. Sorry. I just wanted to check, no harm in checking, right? Thanks for your response

</p>

[dwagar]

Re: Hammond Capacitors

no, no harm in checking, just being smart.