PCB Warning, what part contains them?

8/13/2010 10:56:26 PMAaron

Working on an HP 330B Distortion Analyzer that I really wanted to restore, but I'm concerned about PCB leakage. Any idea what part contains them?

I'm guessing it's the 1uf 400v cap near the bottom center of the underside picture? Everything else looks like normal paper or electrolytic.

I hope it's not the transformer, because there is something oily underneath it. It is noticeable on the wires coming out of the transformer, and on the power cord beneath.

[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0544.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0543.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0542.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0541.jpg[/img]

8/14/2010 1:10:05 AMMarv Nuce

Aaron,
Couldn't read the "Warning Label", and I'm not an ECO warrior, but would guess that the warning applies to the transformer. As I recall, it was some sort of insulator.

marv

:Working on an HP 330B Distortion Analyzer that I really wanted to restore, but I'm concerned about PCB leakage. Any idea what part contains them?
:
:I'm guessing it's the 1uf 400v cap near the bottom center of the underside picture? Everything else looks like normal paper or electrolytic.
:
:I hope it's not the transformer, because there is something oily underneath it. It is noticeable on the wires coming out of the transformer, and on the power cord beneath.
:
:[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0544.jpg[/img]
:
:[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0543.jpg[/img]
:
:[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0542.jpg[/img]
:
:[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0541.jpg[/img]
:

8/14/2010 8:27:02 AMWalter

Treat unknown substances as carcinogenic or toxic to be on the safe side.
Ventilate the work area and wash hands after handling oils and powders from components.
Old transformer oil was sprayed on roadside vegetation to kill them and now the soils in these areas have elevated PCB levels.
Batteries may contain dangerous heavy metals, etc.
I operate the solder machines at work and have to undergo yearly blood tests for metal (zinc/lead) levels as a precaution and wear a breathing mask when handling dross/metal oxides.
We learn as we go. Hopefully we're getting smarter.

:Aaron,
:Couldn't read the "Warning Label", and I'm not an ECO warrior, but would guess that the warning applies to the transformer. As I recall, it was some sort of insulator.
:
:marv
:
::Working on an HP 330B Distortion Analyzer that I really wanted to restore, but I'm concerned about PCB leakage. Any idea what part contains them?
::
::I'm guessing it's the 1uf 400v cap near the bottom center of the underside picture? Everything else looks like normal paper or electrolytic.
::
::I hope it's not the transformer, because there is something oily underneath it. It is noticeable on the wires coming out of the transformer, and on the power cord beneath.
::
::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0544.jpg[/img]
::
::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0543.jpg[/img]
::
::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0542.jpg[/img]
::
::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0541.jpg[/img]
::
:

8/16/2010 2:12:23 AMEdd

Sir Aaron . . . . .

I'se also gots one of those, but its reliability, and sort of infrequent use, has never required the need to have to slide it out of its case.

In looking over every thing in the way of components , the only thing that I see is that Sprague 1 ufd 400 VDC, down in a corner of the instrument. I remember some of them having a spiral wrapped, almost cellophane clear plastic wrap over the metal casing.

BUT . . . this one in your unit, appears to be having a clear poly / vinyl sleeve over it and if like my same types of capacitors, that poly surface seems to get sticky with time. Just like some older Tupperware.

That cap would be your unit that you were looking for. But I find them to be very good units , should it pass a 200VDC leakage test I would stay with it, I feel its cap spec will be right on it, additionally.

If you will check the end caps at the metal housing ends I think that you will be finding pure glass end cap frits sealing them. You just won't typically be finding that degree of quality and sealing integrity on newer types of units.(Unless being NASA or Mil Spec units.)

The power transformers and others seen being used in the unit are all open units, so there won't be any coolant /insulative medium sealed up inside, like there would be in a canned T-former, with the dreaded and vile stuff being all sealed inside . . . unless . . . aaaaaaaaargh?

Now I just don't ever remember any open transformer being sprayed with that stuff, seems like it was reserved for being in a sealed off utilization, where effective heat conduction to a metal housing for external heat radiation was of more importance.

(Especially on huge power line transformers with fins and being in the refrigerator sizing . . . UPWARDS).

To positively nail it , you just might zip off a querying E-mail to Agilent Technologies to see exactly what info they can still dig up on their former Sugar Daddy of Hoolet Plastered . . Test Instrumentation Engineering and Support Division.

73's de Edd

: Treat unknown substances as carcinogenic or toxic to be on the safe side.
: Ventilate the work area and wash hands after handling oils and powders from components.
: Old transformer oil was sprayed on roadside vegetation to kill them and now the soils in these areas have elevated PCB levels.
: Batteries may contain dangerous heavy metals, etc.
: I operate the solder machines at work and have to undergo yearly blood tests for metal (zinc/lead) levels as a precaution and wear a breathing mask when handling dross/metal oxides.
: We learn as we go. Hopefully we're getting smarter.
:
::Aaron,
::Couldn't read the "Warning Label", and I'm not an ECO warrior, but would guess that the warning applies to the transformer. As I recall, it was some sort of insulator.
::
::marv
::
:::Working on an HP 330B Distortion Analyzer that I really wanted to restore, but I'm concerned about PCB leakage. Any idea what part contains them?
:::
:::I'm guessing it's the 1uf 400v cap near the bottom center of the underside picture? Everything else looks like normal paper or electrolytic.
:::
:::I hope it's not the transformer, because there is something oily underneath it. It is noticeable on the wires coming out of the transformer, and on the power cord beneath.
:::
:::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0544.jpg[/img]
:::
:::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0543.jpg[/img]
:::
:::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0542.jpg[/img]
:::
:::[img]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn428/Maxxarcade/IMG_0541.jpg[/img]
:::
::
:

8/16/2010 5:53:06 PMWallace

Why are you concerned about this? Do you think this stuff will jump out at you or that the pollution police will knock your door down some dark night? Don't panic. Companies put these stickers on anything that had any remote chance of having the stuff in them to keep the epa nuts off their backs. Whether or not there was anything really there, or if was a really a hazard was beside the point. It was just too much trouble to make sure, so the sticker went on. The same kind of idiocy happened when the year 2000 came along. Things like 260 Simpsons and soldering irons were marked as y2k compliant. Why? Because everything in the place had to be certified, never mind if it made any sense. So relax and try not to eat any of the parts and you will be fine.

8/16/2010 11:01:08 PMAaron

:Why are you concerned about this? Do you think this stuff will jump out at you or that the pollution police will knock your door down some dark night? Don't panic. Companies put these stickers on anything that had any remote chance of having the stuff in them to keep the epa nuts off their backs. Whether or not there was anything really there, or if was a really a hazard was beside the point. It was just too much trouble to make sure, so the sticker went on. The same kind of idiocy happened when the year 2000 came along. Things like 260 Simpsons and soldering irons were marked as y2k compliant. Why? Because everything in the place had to be certified, never mind if it made any sense. So relax and try not to eat any of the parts and you will be fine.
:

LOL Yep, I remember the Y2K fiasco quite well.

The piece of the equipment with the sticker seems pretty harmless, however I have another that certainly does have lots of big oil filled caps and transformers, from 1958. They don't seem to be leaking, so I'm not too worried about them. Though the whole thing does have an oily smell after it warms up.

8/17/2010 12:59:48 AMWallace

:
:LOL Yep, I remember the Y2K fiasco quite well.
:
:The piece of the equipment with the sticker seems pretty harmless, however I have another that certainly does have lots of big oil filled caps and transformers, from 1958. They don't seem to be leaking, so I'm not too worried about them. Though the whole thing does have an oily smell after it warms up.
: