A capacitor feedthrough assembly with a cavity including a capacitor stack, including one or more substantially flat anode layers and one or more substantially flat cathode layers in a case with a cover, the case having a first opening sized for passage of the capacitor stack and a second opening defined by a lip. The drained cathode surface is formed along the cell by upper surfaces of juxtaposed carbon cathode blocks, the cathode blocks extending across the cell. The circuit may also be used to identify when the step start resistors need longer cooling time, and to continuously monitor current at times other than during starting. In some cases, a replacement to the associated query component is suggested. A local controller, implemented as a PDA, is mounted to the extendable shaft and electrically connected to the RFID antennareader to receive data from the RFID tag.