That $5 capacitor tester from a garage sale actually works

Picked up this old Sprague TO-5 capacitor tester at a yard sale for $5 last summer. Figured it was just a paperweight since the case is cracked and the dials are faded. Threw some batteries in it and tested a few old electrolytics from a 1980s receiver I was fixing. It matched my modern multimeter's readings within 5% on every cap I tried. Now I use it alongside my new stuff because it shows leakage current way clearer. Anyone else have good luck with ancient test gear that should be junk?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_lee14d ago

The_eva's Fluke find is exactly the kind of luck I love hearing about, reminds me of an old Heathkit signal generator I grabbed for pocket change that still holds calibration better than some of my newer budget gear. Tbh, at this point I half expect any vintage test equipment I come across to either be completely dead or somehow outperform my modern stuff. Ngl, there's just something special about those old workhorses that keeps you coming back to them.

the_eva15d ago

Oh man, that's hilarious. I've got a busted old Fluke meter from a thrift store that's more reliable than half the new stuff on Amazon. Guess they really don't make 'em like they used to...