"Is electronics aging?"

Summary form only given. Concerning the above-named editorial [ibid., vol. 51, p. 1399, Nov. 1963] we have been arguing amongst ourselves at Spectran Electronics Corp. concerning the use of choke or capacitor input filters in our instrument power supplies. Our consensus is that the writer??s reasons for condenser input filters with silicon diode rectifiers are well taken. There are, however, the following disadvantages. 1) The power transformer is larger with condenser input filters; the secondary va is often double that required when the current is delivered over the entire cycle. 2) The high surge current delivered by high conductance diodes imposes severe demands upon the input capacitor. Capacitors capable of reliable operation in the input section have a high cost per microfarad. Our instruments are now being designed with a small buffer input capacitor folloned by a swing choke and electrolytic capacitor.