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Whelan capacitor substitute

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jdubner

Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 35
Location: Independence, OR

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:55 am Post subject: Whelan capacitor substitute

Does anyone have firsthand experience replacing the Whelan 51-3361401-42 

capacitor assembly in a strobe power supply?  Specifically, can you give me a 

DigiKey, Mouser, Allied, etc. part number for a suitable photo flash capacitor 

substitute based on firsthand experience?



The Whelan parts (and complete assemblies) are crazy-expensive.  It's enough to 

make me change out the entire system to LEDs   But I'd really rather just 

repair the power supply and keep on flying.



Thanks,

Joe

Independence, OR

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_________________
Independence, OR

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:59 pm Post subject: Whelan capacitor substitute

At 01:54 PM 12/11/2013, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Does anyone have firsthand experience replacing the Whelan 

51-3361401-42 capacitor assembly in a strobe power 

supply?  Specifically, can you give me a DigiKey, Mouser, Allied, 

etc. part number for a suitable photo flash capacitor substitute 

based on firsthand experience?



The Whelan parts (and complete assemblies) are 

crazy-expensive.  It's enough to make me change out the entire 

system to LEDs   But I'd really rather just repair the power 

supply and keep on flying.


	


   Consider patching "non flash rated" capacitors

   in. The worst that happens is that they don't

   last as long as the original parts. But as long

   as you can do the work yourself, the price differences

   might make the shorter service life an attractive

   alternative.



   Can you read capacity and voltage values off

   the parts?



   Bob . . .

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jdubner

Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 35
Location: Independence, OR

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:54 pm Post subject: Whelan capacitor substitute

Robert L. Nuckolls, III wrote, On 12/11/2013 15:58:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com>

 

   Consider patching "non flash rated" capacitors

   in. The worst that happens is that they don't

   last as long as the original parts. But as long

   as you can do the work yourself, the price differences

   might make the shorter service life an attractive

   alternative.

 

   Can you read capacity and voltage values off

   the parts?


	


There are no markings other than a "Whelen" brand name and part number.  But a 

web site selling replacement parts gave me a tip when it called them 400uF at 

360WVDC.  There are two of them in series and I measured 230VDC across each so 

that 360 WVDC rating seems reasonable.



I "patched" in a couple of junkbox 470uF/450WVDC capacitors.  Alas, the power 

supply still does not work.  Upon close examination I now see some charred 

components and a swelled filter capacitor in the low voltage section.  Rather 

than make the huge effort to reverse engineer and fix it, I think I'll buy a new 

Nova power supply for under $100 and move on.



Thanks for the idea, Bob.  I'm attaching a picture of the HV capacitors if for 

no other reason than to to satisfy peoples' curiosity.



Best,

Joe

Independence, OR

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_________________
Independence, OR

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:49 am Post subject: Whelan capacitor substitute

 	  Quote: 	
		  



I "patched" in a couple of junkbox 470uF/450WVDC capacitors.  Alas, 

the power supply still does not work.  Upon close examination I now 

see some charred components and a swelled filter capacitor in the 

low voltage section.  Rather than make the huge effort to reverse 

engineer and fix it, I think I'll buy a new Nova power supply for 

under $100 and move on.



Thanks for the idea, Bob.  I'm attaching a picture of the HV 

capacitors if for no other reason than to to satisfy peoples' curiosity.


	


   Under the circumstances, probably the most economical

   solution. If you have no plans for the carcass I'd

   like to have it. I'd pop for the packaging/postage.



   I've not had an opportunity to peer into the inner

   workings of this product for many moons.

   Bob . . .

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