Re: Replace tantalum caps with aluminum?

In sci.electronics.equipment Walter Harley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I'm replacing the electrolytics in a nearly-40-year-old HP 654A test
> oscillator.  This is a 10Hz to 10MHz sinewave oscillator.  I have the
> service manual and schematics for it.
> 
> Many of the caps are specified in the service manual to be tantalum.  Some
> are quite large values, up to 390uF.  The caps are all axial (cylinders with
> leads at each end), which is a relatively uncommon package these days.
> 
> Can I replace these large-value tantalum caps with aluminum caps?  I'm
> thinking that in 1967, the ESR, tolerance, and stability of aluminum was
> pretty lousy, but maybe now it's as good as tantalum was back then?

If they are mostly working, you might measure the ESR now, and get an
idea.