Triangular symbol on capacitor? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

cardif55 · 21st Nov 2017, 7:43 am

What is the triangular sign in the capacitor? (the question is short because of my bad English)

newlite4 · 21st Nov 2017, 10:54 am

The other symbol is a square. The two symbols correspond to the terminals at the end cap and help to identify which is which.
Neil

cardif55 · 21st Nov 2017, 11:14 am

Thank you. What kind of capacitor it can be replaced

Herald1360 · 21st Nov 2017, 1:34 pm

It's an electrolytic capacitor with two or more capacitors with a common negative terminal in one can. The reason for identifying them individually will be because their ratings are different in some way from each other. Coloured terminals with appropriate references in the marking are also used.

It can be replaced by a new equivalent (if you can find one); by simply replacing each element with a single capacitor of similar ratings (capacitance, working voltage, ripple current etc) or if appearances matter, there's usually room inside the can (after removing the original contents) to fit multiple modern individual capacitors as per above.

Station X · 21st Nov 2017, 1:50 pm

That looks like a 10uF + 10uF 450V unit.

Just Radios stock these rated at 500V:-

http://www.justradios.com

Other suppliers are available.

Diabolical Artificer · 21st Nov 2017, 1:50 pm

It says 10 (10u) 450v so you can replace it with either two 10u 450v or higher caps or you can get F&T 10u + 10u 500v caps that should be a drop replacement for yours. Watford valves used to do them but I see all they have are 100u + 100u. Hifi Collective may have them, also the BVWS may have them in stock. not sure if you have to be a member to purchase, think not. Contact Mike Barker here on the forum.

However unless it is physically leaking, these big old caps do reform successfully.

Andy.

Edit, Graham beat me to it.

Kala_12 · 21st Nov 2017, 7:28 pm

I seem to remember that one symbol indicated the outer foil (for use as the reservoir), but I can't remember which one it was or even if it was actually so. Maybe someone can confirm or deny this.
Stuart

Herald1360 · 22nd Nov 2017, 12:23 am

Not sure the symbol was "assigned" so to speak, but on the basis that coloured tag types usually were "red outer" they may well have been.

Anybody got samples for a quick comparison?

cardif55 · 22nd Nov 2017, 6:00 am

Thanks to everyone, continue research...

julie_m · 25th Nov 2017, 4:15 am

The way I understand it, there are actually two capacitors in one can. The can itself is the common negative terminal. The terminal marked with a square is the positive of a 10μf, 450V capacitor, and the terminal marked with a triangle is the positive of a separate 10μf, 450V capacitor.

ms660 · 25th Nov 2017, 11:40 am

I don't think there's any correlation between the symbol and the outer/reservoir capacitor, the outer/reservoir capacitor will be the first one as read.

10uf 450vdc (outer)

10uf 450vdc (t'other)

Lawrence.

21st Nov 2017, 7:43 am	#1
cardif55 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Turku, Finland. Posts: 8	Triangular symbol on capacitor? What is the triangular sign in the capacitor? (the question is short because of my bad English) Attached Thumbnails

21st Nov 2017, 10:54 am	#2
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? The other symbol is a square. The two symbols correspond to the terminals at the end cap and help to identify which is which. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

21st Nov 2017, 11:14 am	#3
cardif55 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Turku, Finland. Posts: 8	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? Thank you. What kind of capacitor it can be replaced

21st Nov 2017, 1:34 pm	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? It's an electrolytic capacitor with two or more capacitors with a common negative terminal in one can. The reason for identifying them individually will be because their ratings are different in some way from each other. Coloured terminals with appropriate references in the marking are also used. It can be replaced by a new equivalent (if you can find one); by simply replacing each element with a single capacitor of similar ratings (capacitance, working voltage, ripple current etc) or if appearances matter, there's usually room inside the can (after removing the original contents) to fit multiple modern individual capacitors as per above. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

21st Nov 2017, 1:50 pm	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? That looks like a 10uF + 10uF 450V unit. Just Radios stock these rated at 500V:- http://www.justradios.com Other suppliers are available. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

21st Nov 2017, 1:50 pm	#6
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,657	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? It says 10 (10u) 450v so you can replace it with either two 10u 450v or higher caps or you can get F&T 10u + 10u 500v caps that should be a drop replacement for yours. Watford valves used to do them but I see all they have are 100u + 100u. Hifi Collective may have them, also the BVWS may have them in stock. not sure if you have to be a member to purchase, think not. Contact Mike Barker here on the forum. However unless it is physically leaking, these big old caps do reform successfully. Andy. Edit, Graham beat me to it. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far. Last edited by Diabolical Artificer; 21st Nov 2017 at 1:59 pm.

21st Nov 2017, 7:28 pm	#7
Kala_12 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? I seem to remember that one symbol indicated the outer foil (for use as the reservoir), but I can't remember which one it was or even if it was actually so. Maybe someone can confirm or deny this. Stuart __________________ Half my stuff is junk - luckily, my wife doesn't know which half!

22nd Nov 2017, 12:23 am	#8
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? Not sure the symbol was "assigned" so to speak, but on the basis that coloured tag types usually were "red outer" they may well have been. Anybody got samples for a quick comparison? __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

22nd Nov 2017, 6:00 am	#9
cardif55 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Turku, Finland. Posts: 8	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? Thanks to everyone, continue research...

25th Nov 2017, 4:15 am	#10
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? The way I understand it, there are actually two capacitors in one can. The can itself is the common negative terminal. The terminal marked with a square is the positive of a 10μf, 450V capacitor, and the terminal marked with a triangle is the positive of a separate 10μf, 450V capacitor. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

25th Nov 2017, 11:40 am	#11
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Triangular symbol on capacitor? I don't think there's any correlation between the symbol and the outer/reservoir capacitor, the outer/reservoir capacitor will be the first one as read. 10uf 450vdc (outer) 10uf 450vdc (t'other) Lawrence.