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Capacitors with screw terminals - how to connect?

Redboy

Redboy

a few good watts
I got some replacement caps for a tube project I'm working on, and the new caps have screw terminals whereas the ones I'm replacing were soldered in place. What's the proper way to wire these things in? I assume I'll fashion "leads" of sorts for them. Can someone give me the dummies primer? Pictures (or links to them) would be helpful, too.

Here's what the caps I have look like:

maly-caps-cg_p.jpg
 
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You should use spade lugs or "O" lugs. But I do recommend soldering to the lugs, not crimping. Mouser and Digi-Key have broad selections, but you should be able to find what you need at Radio Shack.

Fred

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If the lugs are smooth, use lock washers or star washers in between for both long term electrical contact integrity as well as mechanical stability.

Ring terminals won't pull off if loose like spade terminals

The star washers are preferred, as they dig into the metal on both sides and provide what the industry calls "gas tight" connections, which are the basis of reliable connections, like for example wire wrap connections, there the sharp corners of the pins dig into the wire.

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These are exactly what I use. I solder my leads to them first then mount on the caps, lugs, ground points etc. They can sometimes be hard to find though...
WOT
 

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There is one other alternative. For large caps, such as the 18000uF blue monsters I use on 2325's and 2275's, I have to do this on the 2275 because they are normally soldered. I use a copper lug that I buy at Home Depot (and I cant remember the actual brand; its available elsewhere also). It is very robust and the wire can be screwed into it, then the lug screwed to the cap. If I find a picture (and I have one somewhere, I'll post it). They aren't the cheapest, but they sure are solid!
 
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