Isolating Capacitors

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

The capacitor is VAOS p/n ZA2060, X.5 5KV MK II. It was used with the British 19 set HP, the WS22 and the WS11.

It goes back to WW1, since the 1940 edition of the Z1 VAOS lists:

ZA.8486 (I think this is a mistake and it should be ZA.2060 because of the following two entries).

ZA.8486 CONDENSER, X.5, 5-kV., Mk. I ................each £ 0 8s 6d
.0005-uF.; 2,500-V., A.C., wkg.; wood case with ebonite cover; approx. 1.3/4-in x 2.1/2-in x 2-in.; fitted with 1 No. 2 B.A. terminal stem and 1 spring loaded insulated terminal; used with W.T. sets, MB/MC, complete stations, 1B and 1C when required.

ZA.2061 CONDENSER, X.5, 5-kV., Mk. I* ................each £ 0 8s 0d
.0005-uF.; 2,500-V., A.C., wkg.; wood case with ebonite cover; approx. 1.3/4-in x 2.1/2-in x 2-in.; fitted with 2 No. 4 B.A. terminal stem; used with Wireless. sets, No.2, complete stations, No. 2B and 2C; and Wireless sets, No. 7, complete stations, No. 7A

ZA.2062 CONDENSER, BOXES, CONTAINING

Ebonite; approx 3.1/8-in. x 3.3/8-in. x 4-in,; fitted with 1 terminal, brass, No. 2 B.A. on front; 1 terminal, spring, brass, special. with ebonite guard, 3-in. dia. on bottom and 1 M.S. plate with rubber washer to suit; used as aerial lead-in insulator on Tanks, light, Mks. II, IV and V; demands for replacements will state for which type of tank required.

... etc.

The "X.5" is the way the army used to specify condenser^W capacitor values; the letter is the multiplier and the figure(s) are the value. A subsequent letter identified the type /style - there is no rhyme nor reason to this scheme: letters were added as new components of that value came into service!

Multipliers:
No letter - it's the value in microfarads
P is .1 uF
Q is .01 uF
R is .001 uF
X is .0001 uF
Y is .00001 uF
Z is .000001 uF

Confused? You will be.