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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
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
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,478 posts
 
Please confirm the cap value needed and the voltage realized in your power supply. 
Here are my two favorite film caps for power supplies,

- Clarity TC 600v. They have a 50uf Kelvin style and 55uf regular dual lead. Many other values.  No bypass cap needed. 

- Mundorf Tubecap - many values.  Smaller and good. No bypass cap needed 


pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
@grannyring 

Yep, I keep uF the same (or close) and voltage I'll either go up or at least keep the same. 

Sizewise I cannot swing Clarity or Mundorfs. At a pinch I can squeeze in Solens, but as you mentioned they're not very good. If they aren't an improvement over electrolytics, I won't bother. 







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