Knight Cap Tester Doesn't Like Electrolytic Caps

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Tubejunke

I want to develop a better understanding of the circuits and also current flow. Cadillac units like Sprague TelOhmikes' have a panel ammeter for a reason.

A good test for your meter, and an aid to understanding, is to experiment with a couple of resistors accross the "C" terminals and observe the closing angle of the eye. I just tried a 10 meg and a 10 k resistor on my C-3 Heathkit.
With the 10 k resistor, the eye stays closed at every leakage voltage test position when the pf switch is in paper and mica mode, and will open to varying degrees at 150 volts and below in electrolytic mode.
With the 10 meg resistor, the eye never closes at any voltage setting when the tester is in electrolytic mode, and will close completely at test voltages above 150 volts in paper and mica mode.
The C-3 is about 1000 tomes more sensitive to leakage in the paper and mica mode than it is in electrolytic mode. Your Knight tester is functionally the same as the C-3 and should behave in a similar manner, if the sensitivity is changed correctly by the pf switch.

jr