Plug-in multi-section electrolytic

[terryp]

I'll be recapping a Leslie for a friend in another city soon, and I have a new 30-30-30-10/475 can ready to plug in. Is that all there is to replacing this cap - just unplug the old one, and plug in the new (making sure that the can is oriented properly, of course), or is it more involved than that? I just want to make sure to take the tools I'll need. And has this cap always plugged in, or were some soldered in? I'm not sure what model Leslie she has, or its age.

[geoelectro]

The original ones all plugged in. Later in production they started soldering them in. Probably to save the cost of the socket or, that socket became hard to get. You will have to cut off one ground tab on the new can. I pull out the old one and match it up with the new one. You will see three ground tabs on the old one and four on the new one. Cut off the SAME tab on the new one as the old. This becomes the KEY which only allows it to plug in one way.

Geo

[muckelroy]

Do you know which model Leslie it is? Assuming it's the kind of Leslie that uses a 30-30-30-10 can capacitor, you'll want a socket wrench with a several-inch-long driver extension to unscrew the two nuts holding the can clamp in place. I don't recall the exact size, 3/8 I believe. Bring your socket set.

There are more caps than the can capacitor, but you probably already know this. See the schematic, as well as the many available re-cap threads for these amps.

[terryp]

I don’t know the model, and I’m not sure if she could get to the unit to check it, but I think it’s fairly old. She will be looking to sell it with a B3. She told me there was hum, so I assumed one or both needed re-capping, but someone else who heard them said the hum went away when he wiggled some connector. I brought the B3’s preamp home and re-capped it anyway, and bought the can for the Leslie, thinking she might get more money if she could advertise them as re-capped. I think some Leslie amps have an additional electrolytic inside, but I won’t bother with it.

Thanks for the help! Now I know what tools to take, and what’s involved.

[muckelroy]

I brought the B3’s preamp home and re-capped it anyway, and bought the can for the Leslie, thinking she might get more money if she could advertise them as re-capped. I think some Leslie amps have an additional electrolytic inside, but I won’t bother with it.

Don't put your reputation on the line by calling the Leslie "re-capped", if the only thing replaced was the can. That is misleading, if not a lie. Good luck!