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Help My Capacitor Education

holysocks

Well-Known Member
I've got a Rubycon Capacitor that's seen better days. I'm working on my first receiver restore, an MCS 3275, and I'm learning quite a bit, but need some help and guidance. The leaky power supply capacitor obviously needs to go, and while I'm in there the other mine as well be replaced before it leaks. The tops (which pics don't show due to dust have the numbers 8506 and 8438 stamped on them).

I see some with similar specs on the bay for ~$10/ea from sellers in China. Are these decent? Where does everyone get their capacitors for restores? I figure that asking before buying is the wise thing to do.

Any/all help is appreciated, and only good jokes are apprecaited :nerd:

Rubycon-A.JPG


Rubycon-B.JPG


Rubycon-C.JPG


Rubycon-D.JPG


Rubycon-E.JPG
 
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Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc
 
think that's the dates on top .. you need to order the numbers on the side 10.000uf 63volt you might have to go to 70volts ..make sure you get the right physical size and uf ..you can go higher on the volts no problem ..and make sure you get tabbed ones not the snap in ones ..you maybe ok to go higher on the uf also ..
 
Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc

I agree.. Mouser or parts express. Stay away form Ebay for things like this..
 
You will have more options to chose from if you get snap in caps. Cut the old caps tabs right at the base. Do not desolder the wires. Then just solder the old tabs to the snap in type tabs.Paying attention to the correct polarity of course.
Getting the correct diameter to makes installation easier. You can always go up in voltage. Look for 105 degree caps if you have a choice.
You should have lots of options as the cap value you are looking is common.
Learn about discharging caps before the operation. Cuts down on the excitement.
Looks like a straight forward install.
Have fun.
 
think that's the dates on top .. you need to order the numbers on the side 10.000uf 63volt you might have to go to 70volts ..make sure you get the right physical size and uf ..you can go higher on the volts no problem ..and make sure you get tabbed ones not the snap in ones ..you maybe ok to go higher on the uf also ..

Ah yes, the dates!

What effect does increasing voltage and or capacitance (uf) have on the receiver?

What's the diameter?

approx. 40mm in diameter


You will have more options to chose from if you get snap in caps. Cut the old caps tabs right at the base. Do not desolder the wires. Then just solder the old tabs to the snap in type tabs.Paying attention to the correct polarity of course.
Getting the correct diameter to makes installation easier. You can always go up in voltage. Look for 105 degree caps if you have a choice.
You should have lots of options as the cap value you are looking is common.
Learn about discharging caps before the operation. Cuts down on the excitement.
Looks like a straight forward install.
Have fun.

Great feedback for my capacitor education!! I am glad i asked as I've never heard of mouser either.


Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc

I am enjoying the recapping of this receiver, learning lots, however it isn't something I'd want to do in 6 months! thanks for the multiple brand referrals
 
If they are 40mm diameter, then you can find a nice quality + solder lug model: Nichicon KG series. There is a 10.000uF / 63V, 40(d)x80(h), which seems to be a perfect replacement for your amp. Example/sales here.
 
Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc

I don't disagree with you, but any of the brands you list there are Japanese companies, while these caps are manufacturered in various countries as often indicated on the capacitor datasheets ''country of manufacturing: Thailand/Malaysia/China''. Perhaps that Elna has a factory in the US. There are indeed some counterfeit products offered from Ebay China, but notably the Hong Kong sellers are sitting on top of large genuine surplus stocks. I'm not defending them, but it's not saving jobs back home buying them from Mouser; it's only a sort of insurance of buying genuine parts. And you don't want to know where Mouser and the like store and distribute their parts from... further away than you would think....

just for information !
 
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I am not by any means an expert on this but I think the idea of buying a good brand is that no matter where it was actually made, someone like Nichicon or Panasonic is going to have QA/QC requirements before they put their name on it. Whereas the unknown stuff from Flung Dong Capacitor Factory #2...not so much.

Someone correct me if I'm off base.
 
voltage ratings are maximum ratings so you can go higher in volts but the cap may be a larger physical size ...if you go up in uf you may get better bass from these power supply caps ..i used to always up the uf cos i like the bass ..but others may disagree ..i would stick with original uf these days though because it was designed like that for a reason . best to find some bit of crap stuff to experiment on i think rather than causing any problems with this one just yet
 
Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc

Nothing from nothing, but aren't those brands manufactured overseas?
 
Don't buy the $10 caps from China. Not only are you contributing to the continual job loss here, but you really DO get the crap you pay for. Those caps are pure junk.

Go to Mouser and find a Panasonic, Nichicon, or united chemicon. And of course, another Rubycon.

A known quality brand that won't explode after 6 months.

Marc
Agreed.
 
Nothing from nothing, but aren't those brands manufactured overseas?

Yeah, since WE don't make much of anything anymore. But there is still some QC required in the name brands over the generic stuff I seem to replace every day.

I actually shop for made in USA whenever possible, but it's getting difficult. A sad state of affairs.
 
I don't disagree with you, but any of the brands you list there are Japanese companies, while these caps are manufacturered in various countries as often indicated on the capacitor datasheets ''country of manufacturing: Thailand/Malaysia/China''. Perhaps that Elna has a factory in the US. There are indeed some counterfeit products offered from Ebay China, but notably the Hong Kong sellers are sitting on top of large genuine surplus stocks. I'm not defending them, but it's not saving jobs back home buying them from Mouser; it's only a sort of insurance of buying genuine parts. And you don't want to know where Mouser and the like store and distribute their parts from... further away than you would think....

just for information !

My statement was perhaps too general. I know these are made over seas. Pretty soon our own government will probably be outsourced as well. :rolleyes: (Although that may actually be a GOOD thing?)

I just generally attempt to buy KNOWN quality brands and if possible... made in the USA.

At least Mouser still stocks parts from everywhere, but it's your choice what brand and price to pay. I do know that old surplus caps are not a good idea to buy on ebay, real or fake. And the cheapo or "Teapo" brands... forget it.
 
i would recommend made in the uk but we don't make anything any good since the 1960.s ..we used to be the best a long time ago .. japan is very forward in electronics and has produced some nice stuff in the past but i don't know where the best is coming from these days .. just go by percentage of recommendations
 
I've got a stupid question here, but when folks say they are "re-caping" their receivers/amps/etc... does that mean that they are replacing all capacitors or just the larger ones? If so is there some threshold?
 
Born in the USA!

Ran into this, and YES the Panasonic caps are made in TN - at least this series...
 

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I've got a stupid question here, but when folks say they are "re-caping" their receivers/amps/etc... does that mean that they are replacing all capacitors or just the larger ones? If so is there some threshold?

Recapping involves changing all of the electrolytic caps throughout the unit.

Many people choose to heave the original power supply filter caps (the big suckers) in place uness they exhibit problems (as yours do). However, a thorough recap should really involve the replacement of these caps too.
 
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