beginer doubt

[bjlotus]

hi there, i bought recently a marshall 1987x plexi and this is my first tube amp. I was interested then on tubes and everything, but couldn't find any info about this "black things" located next to the EL34s.

What are they? and, in this case, is it normal that one of them is not perfectly straight?

sorry if it's a silly question, but i am really a newie. here's a pic:



THANKS in advance!

[SatelliteAmps]

Those are what are usually referred to as "filter caps." They are electrolytic capacitors, used in smoothing out the high voltage DC in the amplifier.

[tribi9]

You can just push it down so it's flush with the other one.

[TweeDLX]

Just so you know, the filter caps on a tube amp can "store" extremely high voltages (enough to kill you) even when the amp is not plugged in. If you decide to go "inside" the chassis, Google "draining filter caps" first. It's OK to touch the outside and straighten them up.

Mike

[smolder]

and... their specific physical form is called a cap can, meaning that there are one or more capacitor in the canister... and the mounting method follows the form - different than what a single radial capacitor might require.

[bjlotus]

hey, thanks for replying so fast! i got the idea now.
noticed that, apart from those 2, there's a similar cap on the opposite corner, behind the pre tubes.. is it something similar?
about to straighten it up... i prefer no to touch it, unless there is a problem with it being in that position. Its very subtle thou.

again, thanks to all!

[michael patrick]

It's fine the way it is. I wouldn't mess with it and risk breaking one of the solder connections.