Capacitor discharge

[bluescaster]

Hi, i just finish to build my 5E3. All is ok, tone is amazing .

I noticed that when i turn off the amp, the 3 x 16uf/475v capacitors begin to discharge. After one night i just have 5v on B+ ! when i look the schematic, i don't find a way to this capacitors to discharge. So ?

kind regards.

[MWJB]

Why do you need them to discharge? just don't touch the hot ends and you'll be OK.

If you want to discharge them to work on the amp, power down & connect a jumper wire from pin 1 or 6 of a 12AX7 to ground & wait 30 seconds, now the amp is safe to work on. Remove jumper before powering up.

[bluescaster]

I don't need them to discharge, they discharge themselves !

[pdf64]

Schematics show 'idealised' perfect components. In the real world, each component will have it's own sub schematic / equivilant circuit, containing capacitive, resistive and inductive elements.
Your B+ caps have imperfect insulation between the capacitive electrodes. It's par for the course with electrolytic caps, you'll see it specified in the manufacturer's data sheets as a 'maximum leakage current', and is often related to the product of the capacitence and voltage rating.
Unless the caps are getting warm just with the B+ voltage across them, don't worry about it.
Non electrolytic caps are now available with suitable ratings for B+ reservoir/decoupling use, and these will have much better insulation, so will maintain the B+ level for longer after switch off, but they are much more expensive.

[Steve Conner]

Well, you WANT them to discharge quickly after switchoff, so they don't shock you or blow the tip off your soldering iron.

[d95err]

The tubes are probably discharging the capacitors. They continue to draw some current until they've cooled down.

[bluescaster]

Even with just the 5Y3, capacitors discharge themselves when the amp turn off.

[loudthud]

Even with just the 5Y3, capacitors discharge themselves when the amp turn off.

Leaving your meter connected will discharge the caps.......eventually.