PSU III Pre and Phono

[bikerhifinut]

220uf suggests they have been "upgraded" from the original 100uF.
When you say the voltage rating isnt right Bob, am I thinking these are possibly only 350V rated? Which I would agree is way too low as until the preamps start conducting HT, the voltages across the HT capacitors could well exceed their rating.
Personally I'd go no lower than 450V, plenty of choice at that or 500V.
I recapped my PSU3 with the standard value 100uF High quality F&T450V wkg, and also added the extra capacitors allowed for on the board with 100uF F&T.
This gives a far greater smoothing effect than a couple of 220uF due to the extra RC filter, explained very well in Morgan Jones' well known tome.
Given a choice I'd always try and obtain the F&T electrolytics, proven and very high quality at a reasonable price.
You may prefer other flavours and that's fine by me Bob, you'd never fit a dodgy part I am certain.
My feeling is that the choke has been damaged due to abuse from a previous owner/bodger and as you imply, perhaps the HT caps have come out in sympathy.

I've just done a quick back of an envelope sum and made a couple of assumptions, namely the primary of the mains transformer is wound for 230V being the nominal UK mains Voltage, and that the actual Voltage is up at the maximum legally allowed of 253V which we get close to here. That would give an off load HT DC of around 390V give or take. So for me even a 400V rated HT capacitor is too close to feel 100% secure.
Andy.