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Another Charger Question [message #9433]

Mon, 21 April 2008 17:04

eltumi
Messages: 26
Registered: April 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC

Junior Member

Does the "increase the caps to 4500mfd" apply to these?
The originals are, 2200 or 2500, I can't remember.

Also, as a side question. Which of the other amps is the one that was used in the Chargers closest too?

Thanks,

Michael

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9434 is a reply to message #9433]

Tue, 22 April 2008 15:45

chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

I'm not as familiar with the Charger as I am with the plexi's and the metal fronts. If you describe the boards maybe we can figure out what it's similar to. Any board PC numbers?

I did just see a Commander and internally it is basically a single channel combo version of a metal front 150 head. Maybe your's is similar and is basically a metal front 150.

As for the filter caps, upping the capacitance to 4500mF can only be an improvement over the original 2500's, especially in a bass amp.

[Updated on: Tue, 22 April 2008 15:50]

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9435 is a reply to message #9433]

Thu, 24 April 2008 12:42

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I have never seen the inside of this model, but if they use choke (another transformer) after the bridge rectifiers, than I do not think upping the cap values will give much of a preformance increse.

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9436 is a reply to message #9435]

Fri, 25 April 2008 11:42

eltumi
Messages: 26
Registered: April 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC

Junior Member

stevem wrote on Thu, 24 April 2008 12:42

I have never seen the inside of this model, but if they use choke (another transformer) after the bridge rectifiers, than I do not think upping the cap values will give much of a preformance increse.

It has the choke after the bridge. I have a picture of it that I would post, if I could.

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9437 is a reply to message #9433]

Fri, 25 April 2008 12:18

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Thats what I figured, its made just like a one channel K150 model.
If you are playing it loud enough that it starts to clip, than upping the filter values will help a tad towards having more clean head room.

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9438 is a reply to message #9437]

Fri, 25 April 2008 12:45

eltumi
Messages: 26
Registered: April 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC

Junior Member

Only a tad, huh? (2) 4500mfd caps at $18 bucks a pop for just a tad? Probably not.....

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9440 is a reply to message #9433]

Mon, 28 April 2008 06:33

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Yea, thats how much the big can type caps cost, but you do not have to get that type. For less than 5 bucks you can get the same or larger values in smaller radial or axial types, just stay away from illinois brand, as they are made in twiwan and they suck,.
I use the radial 10,000 mfd types in a couple of my amps. I just heat shrink insulate both leads, than heat shrink the whole cap in some larger shrink, and silicone glue that to the bottom of the amp or the side of the original caps.

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9441 is a reply to message #9440]

Mon, 28 April 2008 09:13

eltumi
Messages: 26
Registered: April 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC

Junior Member

stevem wrote on Mon, 28 April 2008 06:33

Yea, thats how much the big can type caps cost, but you do not have to get that type.

Cool, if it meets your approval, then I can afford to experiment. $40 is a bit much for me to spend for just a tad extra clean headroom.

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Re: Another Charger Question [message #9442 is a reply to message #9440]

Mon, 28 April 2008 09:17

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

First off, if you need to replace the caps anyway, $18 isn't much. If you don't want to change them, don't but remember that caps will and do dry out after 30 years or so, especially if it hasn't been used for a number of years. When I decide to change it usually goes with a cord replacement and cleaning. Then I replace them just because. These amps rarely die. The new owner doesn't like the underlying hiss that is a Kustom trademark so they try to quiet it down with new transistors. Then replace the caps and do a complete detail cleaning and restore it as close to original as you want.
Conrad

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