Tag: Jerry Kahn

Minutes: June 26, 2018

There was no formal business meeting.

Attendance was 11 members, 1 guest.

Jerry Kahn, ACØRL, presented an interesting program about reforming electrolytic capacitors. Jerry explained that the plates inside of an electrolytic capacitor slowly lose their insulating oxide layer as it sits unused for a number of years. As the insulating oxide layer depletes, the capacitor’s internal resistance lowers, eventually to nearly zero ohms. Permanent damage will occur if a sufficiently high current is applied to an electrolytic capacitor with depleted oxide layers.

The safest way to reform an electrolytic capacitor is to apply a constant low current (5 ma maximum) to the capacitor, with its rated voltage. When the capacitor is fully reformed, the current drops off sharply to a leakage current value on the order of microamps.

The next meeting will be August 28, 2018.

Preview: June 26, 2018, meeting

Jerry Kahn, ACØRL, has prepared a very interesting and informative program for our June meeting: “A Modern, Simple, and Safe Method of Reforming Electrolytic Capacitors.”

The DOD, NRC, and manufacturers of capacitors recommend periodic reforming to keep electrolytics ready for use and to restore electrolytics that have gone through extended periods of disuse.

Bring an old, undamaged, electrolytic capacitor (or two or three) to the meeting. Once they are smoked, the magic is gone.

Jerry is an Amateur Extra Class operator, first licensed in 1991. He holds a GROL with Ships Radar Endorsement. He served in the United States Navy as an avionics tech, working on FLIR, RADAR, flight, and weapons systems. He worked in marine electronics.

Jerry attended DeVry University in electronics engineering technology. He worked for Logical Devices in QA, test, and product engineering.

He started his current technology business, VeriStitch, Inc., and Stitch Dynamics, in 1993, serving the personalization and decorative industry. His customer list includes Lands’ End, Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney, Vera Bradley, Disney, Michaels Arts and Crafts, JanSport, Taylor Made, Williams Sonoma, and other companies.

He is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine endorsements. He is also a certified motorcycle safety coach, currently teaching motorcycle safety at Hutchinson Community College.