Harbach SB-220 Amp Cap Kit is a Snap

[BBB]

I installed the new Harbach Heathkit SB-220 amplifier Snap-In Capacitor Kit so I'll post a few photos.

I like the fact that you keep the factory capacitor caddy intact and installation was a breeze. The price was decent at $90 instead of the $150 for the full size cap kit they also sell. I should have asked if I could have just bought the board and resistors at a discount because I already had a tray of the 330μF 450VDC snap-mount electrolytic capacitors.

So easy even an 11 year old can do it !

http://harbachelectronics.com/shop/heathkit-sb220-sb221/es4sb220-filter-capacitor-block/

 

[BBB]

And yes... that's my adult beverage on the bench from the local Lionshead brewery.

 

[RatsoW8]

The Harbach mods are excellent. I installed all the mods in an SB-200 some years ago with no issues. I'm currently looking for another SB-200.

No worries about the beer...I just though you were the coolest 12 year old on the forum...working on amps and having a cold one...I don't judge. lol

 

[BBB]

Yeah, that's my youngest boy Clark working the 80 watt iron.

He's taken a bit of interest in the hobby and what better a way than working on a Heathkit. He loves to watch the solder flow

 

[kd5yph]

Out of curiosity what was the part # on the caps you ended up using? I've got that same board but am having some issues getting the board + spacers + caps to fit in my SB220.

 

[wavrider]

It will fit, just takes a little bit of maneuvering to get it in there

 

[kd5yph]

It will fit, just takes a little bit of maneuvering to get it in there

You would think but I can't get it to fit. It's almost like the screws aren't long enough. I searched for specs on the length of those screws. Did you have to re-arrange something to make it work?

 

[wavrider]

loosen the nuts on the metal box( lack of better term) that the caps fit in.

You will need to put amp on it's side loosen the nuts that secures the metal box legs,

This allows you to raise the metal box and slide the caps and board inside the box, then just tighten the nuts back down once you have the cap and board back in place,

I just did one last week, piece of cake once the nuts are loosened to fit all caps inside the plastic support form.

 

[BBB]

I didn't use the Nippon Chemi-Con 330mf 450V caps they supplied. I used Nichicon 330uf 450V 105C GY(M) series caps I had in bulk. They were slightly longer and had a better lifespan rating.

 

[BBB]

I just double checked and both the caps supplied with the kit and the ones I installed are 3.49mm or 1.39" in diameter. The original Sprague caps were 3.51mm or 1.41" in diameter.

If the ones you installed are wider, I could see why the plastic carriage assembly wouldn't compress enough to fit properly.

 

[kd5yph]

I just double checked and both the caps supplied with the kit and the ones I installed are 3.49mm or 1.39" in diameter. The original Sprague caps were 3.51mm or 1.41" in diameter.

If the ones you installed are wider, I could see why the plastic carriage assembly wouldn't compress enough to fit properly.

Thank you for this information! I need to re-measure mine to be sure but I believe they are in the range of 3.51mm.

 

[kd5yph]

An update. To help get the CDE caps to fit, I ended up using a 1-3/8" hole saw with some sand paper glued to the outside (using spray glue) to enlarge each opening just a little bit. That gave me the space I needed to get everything put back together.

 

[wavrider]

glad you got it together