Topic: Elna capacitors, where to buy ?

[rascal101]

PSU filter. An increase in the bulk capacitor means higher inrush current. This may damage your fuse if you are not careful (i = C x dV/dt).

Ceramic capacitors. Designers will use ceramic capacitors depending on where ceramic capacitors are best eg clock circuit, high frequency filter etc There are many types of ceramic capacitors NPO/COG, X7R, Y5P etc. What to use depends on the application.

Most tweakers I have seen do not change the ceramic capacitors. It is usually the input capacitor, bulk capacitor and output coupling capacitor that is changed. None of these use ceramic capacitors.

There is an article written by Walt Jung of Analog Devices discussing the merits of the various capacitors. He also discusses changing the output capacitors and its electrical improvements. I believe some people have used this as a basis for doing changes in the output coupling capacitors of their audio source.

Link to the article ...
    http://waltjung.org/PDFs/Picking_Capacitors_1.pdf
    http://waltjung.org/PDFs/Picking_Capacitors_2.pdf

[odyopayl]

Branded names already added cost to its product because of reputations and some technical factors:
- Materials used
- How it's made.......(So much to discuss on this)
- Where it's made
- Accuracy
- Test done
- Reviews done
etch..
99% is definitely different from 99.9999%
BTT: Why not try Mundorf, blackgate.....

[qguy]

too many caps to change, its a vintage receiver.

BTT: Why not try Mundorf, blackgate.....

[ATJr.]

Can a change in capacitor alter the sound reproduced (either better or worse)? Like higher or lower values? Different brands with different performance?

does it matter? not to me......

[Nelson de Leon]

does it matter? not to me......

Yun lang.  

[qguy]

I think depends on the application

For crossover network, may difference as it would change the crossover points
For power supply, jojo mentioned, may advantage pero cost would be an issue.

As for sound quality, I think ang safest answer is to get tight tolerances, specially if its going to be used for LEFT and RIGHT channels. just imagine a +/- 20 % tolererance would mean a maximum difference of 40 percent from left and right channels.

[ATJr.]

I think depends on the application

For crossover network, may difference as it would change the crossover points
For power supply, jojo mentioned, may advantage pero cost would be an issue.

As for sound quality, I think ang safest answer is to get tight tolerances, specially if its going to be used for LEFT and RIGHT channels. just imagine a +/- 20 % tolererance would mean a maximum difference of 40 percent from left and right channels.

yes, for cross-overs, a change from ecap to film types is a definite step in the right direction, not nescessarily to better the sound but to prolong the usefull life of the thing....

in the past i used ecaps in my crossovers simply because films were unobtanium in those days.....today there is no more excuse not to use film caps....

oh and i wouldn't worry much about capacitor tolerance......the speaker impedance vary all over the place with frequency anyway...capacitor tolerance in this sense in meaningless...design of cross-overs assume resistive loads anyway...

[qguy]

I tried searching at RS and Element14

The parts I need are there, but theres a minimum of 5 to 50 pcs for the some part, some parts I need just 1 pc  and there a minimum of 50 pcs ARGH !!!!, 5 PCS depending on cost is reasonable, but 50 pcs minimum, I dont understand  I guess target market is stores and such, Anyways I think I need to go to a brick and Mortar Store ? I heard may mga fake or generic  capacitors,  so can you recommend  reputable brick and mortar stores ?

[JojoD818]

That's the very reason I was veering you away and pointing you to online stores.

Unfortunately, they do pack things in 5's and even 50's.

[qguy]

I just checked my capacitor list, out of 13 different types,  only one exceeded 5 pcs,  most of it is 1 and 2.  I guess I am stuck with Brick and Mortar store. I guess Deeco would be my best bet.. any others ?

That's the very reason I was veering you away and pointing you to online stores.

Unfortunately, they do pack things in 5's and even 50's.

[Stagea]

I tried searching at RS and Element14

The parts I need are there, but theres a minimum of 5 to 50 pcs for the some part, some parts I need just 1 pc  and there a minimum of 50 pcs ARGH !!!!, 5 PCS depending on cost is reasonable, but 50 pcs minimum, I dont understand  I guess target market is stores and such, Anyways I think I need to go to a brick and Mortar Store ? I heard may mga fake or generic  capacitors,  so can you recommend  reputable brick and mortar stores ?

Yup, may mga fake nga na caps (pati mga transistor). You can also buy extra units if you want to test for matched pairs kung OC ka sa symmetry.

Nakakatakot:


Mali na value, mali pa voltage rating.

[markcrenz]

Example #2:

PSU Supply Filter. Change it to a lower value and ripple will increase. Change it to a too high a value and the Law of Diminishing returns will kick you in the butt, seriously, there is no limit as to how much you want to use but it's all for nothing once you exceed a certain limit.

not to mention blown fuse or diodes.

This is where all the laughter comes from when you read someone changing a cap and says magical things about it without even understanding what the heck it's function is.

i'd swear the narnia caps do wonders! 

[rascal101]

ecaps are notorious for their cap tolerance......i would avoid them in ac coupling and timing circuits if i could...

All capacitors with 20% tolerance are notorious. The issue with e-caps is the frequency vs capacitance. The capacitance is almost halved at around 10KHz. This is due to the high dissipation factor. Film capacitors excel in this area.

[rascal101]

not to mention blown fuse or diodes.
i'd swear the narnia caps do wonders!  

Matanong kita Sir. Bakit nga ba nasisira ang fuse kapag malaki ang capacitor? Tapos, bakit nadadamay pati diode samantalang mas mataas naman ang inrush rating (i^2 * t) ng diode sa fuse? Hindi ba dapat nauuna ang fuse masira? Kapag nasira ang fuse pati diode nadadamay? Tama ba?

[markcrenz]

What is your point? This is the standard in parts selection in a typical company - Supplier Engineering, Component Engineering and Design Engineering departments are the main groups involved in parts selection and testing.

they do that just to select each capacitor in an amplifier?  

Maybe you are not aware of this.

maybe yes maybe not.  

[rascal101]

they do that just to select each capacitor in an amplifier?  
 maybe yes maybe not.  

Pikit mata ba pinipili?

[markcrenz]

Matanong kita Sir. Bakit nga ba nasisira ang fuse kapag malaki ang capacitor? Tapos, bakit nadadamay pati diode samantalang mas mataas naman ang inrush rating (i^2 * t) ng diode sa fuse? Hindi ba dapat nauuna ang fuse masira? Kapag nasira ang fuse pati diode nadadamay? Tama ba?

with your technical expertise i'm sure you know the answer. but for the benefit of others it's because the caps are initially "seen" by the upstream components as short circuits, kaya may possibility na masira ang fuse OR diode.

[rascal101]

Kaya ko nabanggit sobrang bihira nasisira ang diode sa paglaki ng capacitor. May ibang piyesa kasali kaya nasisira ang diode.

[markcrenz]

Pikit mata ba pinipili?

baka nga dumadaan pa sa 3 departamento bago mapili bawat capacitor. tapos noted by the engineering manager, avp, vp, coo, ceo and finally the board approval.  

[ATJr.]

I just checked my capacitor list, out of 13 different types,  only one exceeded 5 pcs,  most of it is 1 and 2.  I guess I am stuck with Brick and Mortar store. I guess Deeco would be my best bet.. any others ?

whenever i go to deeco to look at caps, the ones on an ammo belt packs first get my attention...

[ATJr.]

Pikit mata ba pinipili?

i hope not, pero ako pikit ang isang mata pag hinipan ko yung stocks ko na caps, maalikabok na kasi....

[ATJr.]

Matanong kita Sir. Bakit nga ba nasisira ang fuse kapag malaki ang capacitor? Tapos, bakit nadadamay pati diode samantalang mas mataas naman ang inrush rating (i^2 * t) ng diode sa fuse? Hindi ba dapat nauuna ang fuse masira? Kapag nasira ang fuse pati diode nadadamay? Tama ba?

e yung output cap ng preamp ko malaki nga...pero hindi naman naputok ang fuse, saka walang umuusok.....wala naman kasing fuse eh.... o, huwag nyo akong tularan, unsafe yun....

iquantify mo kasi, pag masyadong general ang statement walang tamang sagot....

[qguy]

correction.. I just check 14 elements and some item have no min !!!

[ATJr.]

pero merong minimum total order?

[audiojunkie]

correction.. I just check 14 elements and some item have no min !!!

baka meron pic/s sir pa post naman...  

interesting kasi sa dami ng caps na kailangan mo....  

[rascal101]

e yung output cap ng preamp ko malaki nga...pero hindi naman naputok ang fuse, saka walang umuusok.....wala naman kasing fuse eh.... o, huwag nyo akong tularan, unsafe yun....

iquantify mo kasi, pag masyadong general ang statement walang tamang sagot....

Oo nga naman 

[rascal101]

baka nga dumadaan pa sa 3 departamento bago mapili bawat capacitor. tapos noted by the engineering manager, avp, vp, coo, ceo and finally the board approval.  

Basahin mo iyung halimbawa ko sa page 1 kung saan isang tao lang ang kailangan. Siya na iyung lahat ng departamento at opisyales. Gayunpaman mayroon siyang sinusunood na patakaran 

[qguy]

pero merong minimum total order?

Just called no minimum order, but subject to delivery charge.

Physical inventory is in Singapore and US, 5-8 days for singapore based items and 10 -13 days for US based items

[qguy]

pics ng ?

baka meron pic/s sir pa post naman...  

interesting kasi sa dami ng caps na kailangan mo....  

[audiojunkie]

pics ng ?

receiver nyo sir...