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Electrolytic capacitor replacement

I want to swap out a couple of electrolytic caps with higher quality caps, also electrolytic. The ones I am looking at are all physically bigger than the ones I am replacing, and consequently the leads don’t fit the board. The rubicon’s I want to bin are have a diameter of around 3/4’ and the caps I’m considering are between 1’ and 2’. The big issue I have is the lead spacing.

I’m considering using a spacer between the pc board and the cap giving enough room for the leads to bend enough to fit the board. I have space on the board to fit a larger cap, but not enough to mount the caps on their side. The caps new will need to sit “upright”.

Id appreciate it if somebody has figured an eloquent solution for this.

Thanks
pauly
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,573 posts
 
This is for an amplifier. I have replaced those Solen caps before. I have never liked Solen caps however. They are OK in a power supply, but they are slow and dull sounding. Why not Clarity CSA?
pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
@grannyring

Why not Clarity CSA?

I wasn’t aware of the Clarity caps.


Honestly, after posting I saw VH makes both a 47uF ODAM and 47uF OIMP, so I had been thinking of going for one or the other. The Clarity is about half the price of the VH audio caps, so that’s probably the more sensible choice.




erik_squires
16,457 posts
 
Sorry I misread.  I dislike solens a great deal as well.  :)
pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
Jeez, the Clarity caps aren't really small are they? Wow. 


pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
@grannyring


I’ve put the Clarity in a cathode bypass position on a driver tube and it sounds very good. It added a ‘gentle’ but detailed quality. Thanks for advice; good call as always!


You mentioned Solens are ok in a power supply. I’d love to use Clarity but they are just too big. Is it worthwhile to swap out the cheap electrolytic with Solens?


Also, would it be worth looking into using large value Solens bypassed by a smaller Clarity - Lets say a 51uf Solen and a 10uF Clarity? I’m talking power supply decoupling caps.


Thanks
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