jacoby@kpno.UUCP (10/19/83)
I read in some audio magazine some time back that there is a break in period on any audio amp while the electrolytics in the power supply "form". And that once formed, they remain so for several weeks. The "forming" time could be several days as I recall. Does this seem reasonable? I've heard about electrolytics needing some "on" time every once in a while before, but I'm not sure it would be audible unless heavy peak demands are made on the power supply. george kpno!jacoby
wjm@whuxk.UUCP (10/19/83)
Yes, electrolytic capacitors do require a "forming" period -when an electrolytic capacitor is first powered up, the dielectric material must be appropriately polarized - neutral material is converted into positive and negative plate material. This causes a high inrush current at first until the forming process is completed (usually in several seconds). If an electroylitic is not used for a while, this reaction reverses itself and then the capacitor will have to be re-formed the next time the system is turned on Bill Mitchell Bell Laboratories Whippany NJ (whuxk!wjm)