1.0uF 150V capacitor for Pye 121.

[astro63]

Hi, what is the modern version of this HUNTS 1.0uF, 150V capacitor?

Cheers.

[paulsherwin]

Do you mean 0.1uF?

[astro63]

Hi.

I've checked it and it has 1.0uF 150V written on it. I will upload a pic. It goes from the metal deck to a tone control on a Pye 121 transistor record player. It was working fine and is now a bit distorted. I tried new stylus ( 4 ) which made no difference. When the capacitor is disconnected from the deck the distortion seems less, but no tone control.

Photo of the part I think needs replacing, there is another one marked 0.5uf 150V. Would be most grateful for any help.

[Herald1360]

Any 1uF film capacitor with 150V or higher working voltage will do.

For the 0.5uF use 0.47uF (470nF) or even two 1uF in series.

[astro63]

Cheers Herald I'll track some down and see if that solves the distortion

[Glowing Bits!]

Have a look at speaker crossover caps, just be careful with the voltage rating of them.

[Glowing Bits!]

Just been on ebay and found a 1uf 600v polyester cap from a shop in Scotland, I have purchased from this shop on many occasions and always had good service.

[astro63]

Cheers Glowing, I've tracked down the replacement parts, sorry if I sound thick but what are speaker cross over caps? I'm not techno so don't know what you mean, but if it means the capacitor on the speaker, there isn't one. I'm hoping the 2 capacitors I've ordered solve the problem as I have already changed several and it was fine. I put a new stylus in and that's when I noticed the slight distortion, tried another cartridge, but still the same. So fingers crossed the new bits will solve it.

[Glowing Bits!]

A speaker crossover capacitor will not be used in your unit, they are usually used in hi fi speakers.
The reason for using a crossover capacitor as an example is because they are non-polar (no polarity) and are in the UF range. Crossovers can use electrolytic or polyester type, I won't go too far into that subject at the moment as it won't solve your problem and is a little off topic.
So long as the new capacitor is not electrolytic and is 1uf, 150v or higher, it should work.
BTW, you're not thick/stupid/have no clue/not technologically minded, you're someone who's willing to learn, learning is a good thing, everyone has to start somewhere.

[astro63]

Thanks Glowing, will let you know if it works and the problem resolved after the new parts arrive. If it's no then then I'm stumped but fingers crossed.

[astro63]

Well both parts arrived, fitted the 1uF 150V, still sounds slighty distorted, so fitted the second part orig was 0.5uF 150V bought a 0.47uF 160v and it knocks the volume right down (low)
so now confused and unable to use it :-(

[Glowing Bits!]

I have just been looking through this post again, is it just the stylus (needle) that's been changed?
If so, it's now looking like it could be the cartridge itself, assuming it has not been changed and is original.
After looking at the pic, it appears the original cap is not electrolytic, I'd be surprised if it was at fault.
One is now suspecting the cartridge.

[Glowing Bits!]

Could I ask what the make & model of this set is?

[astro63]

Hi glowing, its a transistor battery record player Pye 121, when I bought it the volume was nill, so with advice, I replaced parts and it was working brilliantly, I bought a new old stock stylus and the rubber damper was perished, so contacted a different supplier and after trying 4 brand new styluses and new rubber damper I can't stop the slight distortion.

The cartridge isn't crystal or ceramic but has 2 coils and magnet, uses Goldring 500 stylus, so far I've bought 4 new styluess think the rubber cushion on the stylus had perished, the new ones cause the same problem. unfortunately the stylus is so delicate that the magnetic metal part breaks off then it's had it.
I have a identical cartridge and it does the same, I've tried a crystal (working one) and no volume at all.
So can only guess it's a component that's gone down so bought the two new bits the 0.5uF 150V. I bought a 47uF 160V and when that's connected there's hardly any volume,
I'm puzzled

[Station X]

Did you replace the 0.5uF with 0.47uF, or 47uF? Your post quotes both values.

[Station X]

Is this The Pye Transistorised Record Player? If so I can't see a 1uF capacitor on the circuit diagram.

I can't see the tone control you mention either, so perhaps I'm looking at the wrong circuit. Can you post a picture of the player please.

[astro63]

Hi sorry for delay I had to go out, I had ordered 0.47uF but looking at the one sent its saying 47uF so I think I may have the wrong one, the Pye 121 was updated in 1957 with tone control the pics attached is the later circuit, then next pic is the 2nd part I went to replace with the "0.47uf" but I've got a 47uf, 3rd pic is under the cicuit board which I think is linked to the tone? i I read ages ago that Hunts capacitors tend to fail hence why I persumed the I've changed were dodgy with the distortion.

[Station X]

C8, the capacitor wired from the tone control to the chassis is a non-polarised 1uF 150V capacitor.

C5, the capacitor connected across the speaker is a 0.5uF 150V capacitor. It needs to be replaced with a 0.47uF or 470nF 150V (or greater) capacitor. If you've replaced it with a 47uF electrolytic capacitor, I'm not surprised you've got problems.

The components circled in your 3rd picture are resistors which appear to be 1 Kohm types. Probably R4 and R6.

[astro63]

Cheers Station X.

I will re-order the correct one this time, is it likely to be the 2 in the last picture circle causing the slight distortion?

Thanks.

[Radio Wrangler]

In this case, I don't think the capacitors need to be 150v types. THey are dramatically derated for use on a 7.5v battery powered amp. 25 0r 50v rating would be plenty.

Astro, In general terms it's best to keep voltage ratings the same or greater as is saves the need to worry about the actual stresses applied to the parts.

In this case there is only a much lower voltage supply, an nothing capable of converting it to a higher voltage (than twice the battery voltage in a push-pull transformer output stage)

David