Bigish caps at reasonable cost? [Archive]

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Darren

17-04-2011, 17:09

Hi people, I'm slowly working through my collection of amps and fettling or throwing as required.
One old favourite is my Rausch D
VT 250 - a large pro amp designed by Ben Duncan in his younger days.
It always sounded great but looked battered, so I've decided to get it recapped and have the front panel and grab handles refinished in black.
The main power supply caps look to be fairly bloody large and must be 25 years old now - so due to be replaced.
My question is: can anyone please recommend a UK source of large, decent sounding but inexpensive caps for this amp. It simply isn't worth running to boutique caps for it but I would like to have it back to sounding it's best.
Many thanks in advance.
PS. I haven't had the top off it yet, so I don't have precise cap values I'm sorry to say.

Reid Malenfant

17-04-2011, 17:16

Hi Darren, get the capacitor voltage rating & capacitance value & we'll be getting somewhere :eyebrows:

Just out of interest why only UK based? If you have paypal i can point you to some superb new Kendiel capacitors at damn good prices with low shipping ;) Values like 63,000uf @ 100V etc...

Linky clicky (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=kendeil+capacitor&_sacat=0&_odkw=kendiel+capacitor&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313) The chap selling them is also a member of DIY Audio forum (same name on the forum) & sells on there as well, he'll have done vastly more transactions than just his ebay feedback suggests ;)

But let us know what they are & i'll go hunting for you if you definately want only UK based stuff :cool:

Darren

17-04-2011, 19:16

Hi RM,
Thanks for taking and interest. The big powersupply caps say LCR on them. They are clamped in horizontally so its damned hard to see but there are four of them and they are 100v, I can see three zeros but not the actual values......

Reid Malenfant

17-04-2011, 19:24

Hi Darren, thinking about it size will be very important if you want to slip the new caps into the clamps that are fitted as standard.

I somehow doubt that they'll be "snap in" electrolytics so the cap diameter & height will be very important. Also are they screw terminal or solder tags?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but i feel sure you can see why :eyebrows:

Darren

17-04-2011, 19:24

Further squinting and cursing would seem to reveal that the caps are 15000uf ( I know it's not really a u) does that sound about right?
Thanks for your help.

Reid Malenfant

17-04-2011, 19:27

15,000uf is a common size so yes it makes sense & yes it isn't a u is it :eyebrows:

Dimensions please & i'll see what i can find, might take time though to get a bargain :rolleyes:

Darren

17-04-2011, 19:30

Hi RM,
Please don't apologise. It's really good of you to help me out: much appreciated. I'll just get my little ones to bed and then I'll measure the caps if I can. They have screw terminals - that much I can see.

Darren

17-04-2011, 20:01

Hi RM.
The caps appear to have screw on terminals and are around 10cm long by 4.5cm in diameter.
There are two massive torroids in there a big finned heatsink and a large fan. It's a fair bit of kit and it would be good to get it going again.
I'm not in a great rush here and I only mentioned UK suppliers for easy access and speedy service really.

AndrewR

25-04-2011, 08:19

Hi Darren,

I would have recommend using BHC capacitors - a brand I use. However, online at RS they don't seem to have your exact value (15,000uF) in 100V.

Hmmm... How about Mallory? Some screw terminal ones should work: http://uk.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mallory/CGS153U100V4C/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtZ1n0r9vR22bNos12dWCDWy8mBkOCIsW4%3d

Andrew

Marco

25-04-2011, 08:27

Hi Andrew,

Good to see you back. Hope your travels went well :)

Marco.

Darren

25-04-2011, 13:01

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for taking an interest. I would have liked some BHC as well.
I'm looking for audio quality caps really. Those caps that you linked to look more general use items. Is that right? Or am I talking out of my hat?

Reid Malenfant

25-04-2011, 13:23

Well i went looking & couldn't find a lot :rolleyes:

Can we have the exact capacitor dimensions please as i'm guessing they'll be 105mm long (common) but the 45mm diameter just doesn't sound right :scratch: 50mm is common & so is 37.5mm & it sounds suspiciously like they might be 50mm (often 51mm or 2")..

Welder

25-04-2011, 13:33

What they dont have they can probably get for you.

http://www.audiocap.co.uk/ft-4700uf--63v-280-p.asp

quickie

25-04-2011, 17:50

Had a search round all the usuall suspects.The 100v rating make them expensive but I found these in stock:

http://cpc.farnell.com/vishay-bc-components/222210119153/capacitor-100v-15000uf/dp/CA05335?Ntt=15000uf+100v

Whats the rail voltage ? If you could get away with 63v then more choice/cheaper.

I've got some new 100v BHC caps here that I could do cheap but they are 47000uf/68000uf and alot bigger.

Paul.

Reid Malenfant

25-04-2011, 18:00

Nice find, i reckon they would fit if Darren cares to measure them properly :)

I was thinking the same thing about the rails, 80V DC caps may well be ok but 63V is a bit of a drop from 100V DC rating..

Darren

25-04-2011, 18:11

Hi everyone,
Many thanks for the links and suggestions. I'm sure one of them will work out a treat.

quickie

25-04-2011, 18:56

80V DC caps may well be ok but 63V is a bit of a drop from 100V DC rating..

Your probably right...........would need to check but you never know.

Had a quick look for 80v but could only find snap ins.

Paul.

Rare Bird

25-04-2011, 19:25

Paul
I'm i seeing things or is that a White Incatech 'Claymore' amp in your avatar? There's only like a couple of those ever made right?

quickie

25-04-2011, 19:34

Yep,one of just two made.

Sat on my other TOCA.

Me likes Colins amps............:lol:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/quickiers/62a15ad9.jpg

Darren

01-05-2011, 21:12

quickie

01-05-2011, 21:39

Your welcome Darren.

The 68,000uf's are massive.........:)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/quickiers/BHCCaps.jpg