Capacitors - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

adrian · 28th Jul 2003, 11:29 pm

What's the preferred replacement for paper caps?

RS were (I think) selling off their stock of 400V Mylar - the green Taiwanese ones - very cheaply (6-10p each).

What's the opinion on these?

high_vacuum_house · 28th Jul 2003, 11:55 pm

Hello there,
I use the yellow polyester capacitors sold by RS or farnell. I use the axial 400 volt types for most HT and decoupling applications. They replace the gungy wax paper capacitors and the Hunts mouldseal variety (almost the same size in some values) they are usually around 30p each depending on value. These capacitors should be very reliable and as they are axial they replace all types very easily and neatly. I use them on all radios I restore now.
Christopher Capener

Station X · 29th Jul 2003, 8:57 am

I too use the yellow type polyester/polypropylene LCR capacitors exclusively. I tend to use the 1000V DC type, as these are the ones stocked by Farnell and I figure that they will be more reliable as they are less stressed at 250V DC. Physical size can sometimes be a problem. My question is just how reliable are these capacitors? Have they been around long enough to know? Has anyone had one fail?

Graham

29th Jul 2003, 5:41 pm

I'm one of those who uses the " Orange Drop " brand polyester capacitors by Sprague/Vishay for replacing those " Black Beauties " and the wax-paper bombs. Why?

They're the easiest to get in the values I need and much more inexpensive than the yellow ones, although the yellow ******* would probably look better.

Those seem to have been around forever....

Opening a can of worms: Does anyone here re-stuff the wax-paper capacitors?

Paul Stenning · 29th Jul 2003, 8:05 pm

I use orange-drop caps for low-cost repairs to sets that I'm not so bothered about (such as late 50s sets with rough cabinets). For better sets I use the yellow 400V or 630V Vishay polyester axial caps from RS/Farnell.

I don't bother with fitting new caps in old cases.

jim_beacon · 30th Jul 2003, 7:34 pm

I tend to use the LCR ones from Farnell (Free postage!), and don't normally bother to hide them, feeling that with most sets I get from the 30s and 40s, there are replacement parts from each decade after, so a couple of modern ones is only continuing the internal " historical record " .

Jim.

28th Jul 2003, 11:29 pm	#1
adrian Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tampico, Mexico Posts: 40	Capacitors What's the preferred replacement for paper caps? RS were (I think) selling off their stock of 400V Mylar - the green Taiwanese ones - very cheaply (6-10p each). What's the opinion on these?

28th Jul 2003, 11:55 pm	#2
high_vacuum_house Octode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belper Derbyshire Posts: 1,935	Re: Capacitors Hello there, I use the yellow polyester capacitors sold by RS or farnell. I use the axial 400 volt types for most HT and decoupling applications. They replace the gungy wax paper capacitors and the Hunts mouldseal variety (almost the same size in some values) they are usually around 30p each depending on value. These capacitors should be very reliable and as they are axial they replace all types very easily and neatly. I use them on all radios I restore now. Christopher Capener __________________ Interests in the collection and restoration of Tefifon players and 405 line television

29th Jul 2003, 8:57 am	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Capacitors I too use the yellow type polyester/polypropylene LCR capacitors exclusively. I tend to use the 1000V DC type, as these are the ones stocked by Farnell and I figure that they will be more reliable as they are less stressed at 250V DC. Physical size can sometimes be a problem. My question is just how reliable are these capacitors? Have they been around long enough to know? Has anyone had one fail? Graham __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

29th Jul 2003, 5:41 pm	#4
sven Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Capacitors I'm one of those who uses the " Orange Drop " brand polyester capacitors by Sprague/Vishay for replacing those " Black Beauties " and the wax-paper bombs. Why? They're the easiest to get in the values I need and much more inexpensive than the yellow ones, although the yellow ******* would probably look better. Those seem to have been around forever.... Opening a can of worms: Does anyone here re-stuff the wax-paper capacitors?

29th Jul 2003, 8:05 pm	#5
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,071	Re: Capacitors I use orange-drop caps for low-cost repairs to sets that I'm not so bothered about (such as late 50s sets with rough cabinets). For better sets I use the yellow 400V or 630V Vishay polyester axial caps from RS/Farnell. I don't bother with fitting new caps in old cases. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

30th Jul 2003, 7:34 pm	#6
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Capacitors I tend to use the LCR ones from Farnell (Free postage!), and don't normally bother to hide them, feeling that with most sets I get from the 30s and 40s, there are replacement parts from each decade after, so a couple of modern ones is only continuing the internal " historical record " . Jim.