Capacitor Tester and Reformer Unit - Stefan Niewiadomski

[Yorkie]

I built the reformer when it was first featured in Radio Bygone Nick. It was later featured in the BVWS Bulletin. I posted a thread in the 'Home Brew'section of this forum back in May 2011. It works very well and I've used it regularly since I built it almost five years ago. To get the 500V it  uses two back to back transformers with the low voltage secondaries wired together, then a voltage doubler to lift the 240V output from 'T2' to nearer 500V.

However, there's no reason why a mains transformer from a scrap radio with a 250V HT and 6v3 heater winding couldn't be used if to hand, as an alternative to the two back-to-back transformers. 

There was a error in the circuit in terms of the LT supply for the digital panel meter, which must not share the ground with the voltage being measured. If you look for 'Radio  Bygones Cap Reformer' you'll find the forum thread that expalins this,  with a diagram of the panel meter. (The reformer also uses an analogue meter for measuring the current).

Time has move on of course, so maybe the present digital  panel meters from China (and perhaps the one used by Stef?) don't have this requirement. It's not a  prblem.

I'm away from home till Saturday Nick, but when  I return home, I'll drop you an e-mail.

Hope that helps.