Question, I have a heathkit model V-5A vacuum tube volt meter. I just got done recapping it only to realize that I put the wrong value capacitor in. It called for a .01 MFD @ 2000V cap. I accidentally installed a .1 MFD @ 2000 instead. Does anyone think it will make a difference as to the performance and longevity of the meter? If it needs to be the correct MFD rating I will get it replaced. It works great and measures accurately. Any input would help.

It depends how the capacitor is being used. If its reactance needs to be a known quantity (as in the fixed part of a bridge) it matters. For blocking/bypassing, not so much. I'm guessing that the cap is being used in a way where its absolute value is not of much importance. If the unit works OK in all its modes/ranges, it should be fine to keep the larger cap.

:It depends how the capacitor is being used. If its reactance needs to be a known quantity (as in the fixed part of a bridge) it matters. For blocking/bypassing, not so much. I'm guessing that the cap is being used in a way where its absolute value is not of much importance. If the unit works OK in all its modes/ranges, it should be fine to keep the larger cap.
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That is the likely to be the "blocking" cap in series with the probe on AC Volts. You did well to use a hi voltage cap, but using a 0.1 vs the original 0.01 uF may load down the circuit under test and make your measurements less sensitive. Your meter may read slightly lower than the actual value being measured.

Rich

PS: I was confused by your title "Heathkit Tube Tester." This device does not test tubes.

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Rich, if it is a series cap in the probe circuit, it should have negligible loading effect, since the circuit it feeds (a vacuum tube grid) is extremely high impedance. If it were a bypass cap from the probe to ground (unlikely!) it would be another matter, and would introduce some frequency-dependent error.

I haven't looked at a schematic, but it would seem to me that the purpose of the cap would be to block DC - in which case, the value should not be critical.

:I haven't looked at a schematic, but it would seem to me that the purpose of the cap would be to block DC - in which case, the value should not be critical.
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It is a DC-blocking cap, but feeds a voltage divider of about 1.2 Meg. Loading effect is probably negligible.
http://heathkit-museum.com/test/images/v-7aa.jpg

Rich