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Is this a valid method for checking capacitor leakage?
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watchmaker:
Leaving aside the obvious safety issues (if this is valid I will make a safe enclosure), is this a valid approach to leakage testing?

After looking at several designs/kits, I realized I had this transistor withstand tester that does in fact put out over 1000 volts DC.  The display voltage agrees with my DMMs.

The cap shown is a 10uF 200 volt electrolytic.  I started with lower voltage caps of course.

If this is deemed valid, then it avoids a host of construction issues and the tester itself cost about $20 on Ali.  Just need a box some jacks, discharge and test switches.



IanB:
You put an ammeter in series with the capacitor, and then charge it up on DC to the working voltage, and when it stops charging, measure the residual current?

I think that is a valid method for the DC leakage current.
watchmaker:
Yes, that is exactly what I did.

THANKS!!  I will take some shots as I put the thing into an enclosure.
IanB:
You might have to be a little careful about the inrush current if the capacitor starts out empty. Might be appropriate to put a 100 ohm resistor or so in series with the capacitor? It depends on the DC supply and what it is expecting as a load.
edpalmer42:
If you're using high voltage (and 200V is high voltage) you need to have some way to discharge the capacitor to a safe voltage before you touch it.  It could be a SPDT switch that goes between 'charge' and 'discharge' with a voltmeter to measure the voltage on the capacitor.
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