Good brand caps? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 01:54:55 pm
content: I need to replace a capacitor in my car's on-board computer and I need at least one (farad number pending). I don't know exactly how hot it gets down there but this is texas, so I assume it gets blazing hot. any recommendations for an extra heat-tolerant cap?

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 02:01:02 pm
content: vishay or panasonic are my preferences,aim for the most hours at the highest temperature your willing to pay for, (each 10 degrees hotter roughly corresponds to half the hours)edit: panasonic not phillips :/

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 02:33:10 pm
content: Rubycon has some 130C caps seen in the phillips LED bulbs,followed byNichiconEpcosPanasonicNippon ChemiconUnited Chemicon < - I assume they are the same?SanyoLOW ESR Electros?But which type are you looking for?Ceramic? MLCC? < AVX, Kemet many othersPolyprop? Poly cap? < Flim caps WIMA, PanasonicMica? Tantys?(why the hell is farnell selling Samwha caps ... WTF)

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 03:48:31 pm
content: Farnell (Newark.com in US) is selling Rubycon RX series which is rated for 130cTechnically, their specs kind of match the specs of other series of theirs, but at different voltage ratings. I mean if you have a 470uF 10v capacitor you want replaced, you can match the specs with a 470uF 25v Rubycon RX and get close enough with a 16v rated one.I only use Nichicon, Rubycon, Panasonic and occasionally United/Nippon Chemi Con ... and if it's really a hard to find capacitor, I wouldn't turn down a Samxon.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 04:58:18 pm
content: Quote from: Rerouter on August 14, 2012, 02:01:02 pmHmm I don't remember really ever seeing any Vishay caps that every popped out as being particularly great but I've only used them one or twice.Here are my preferences:NichiconUnited/Nippon Chemi-con (Yes these are the same company T4P).RubyconPanasonic/MatsuhitaSanyoI remember Mouser carrying automotive grade Nichicons. I believe they were 150C.Found them:http://www.mouser.com/_/N-scv7?Keyword=Nichicon+BX&FS=TrueThey don't stock too many values but perhaps they have a match.Obviously only go up with voltage rating. Check what the current cap is rated for. So if it's 16v, get a 16v or 25v as others have said. Jut make sure it will physically fit.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 07:39:25 pm
content: here's a not-too-clear photo of the effed bits:that big cap blew its load and presumably died 'closed' and fried the resistors.edit: the caps are Nichicon 35v 220uF. can't really see what's on the other side. I'll be looking around for a schematic of this transmission control board.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 08:13:33 pm
content: Where is that board located? It doesn't look particularly rugged or made for high heat/abuse.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 08:38:26 pm
content: Quote from: FenderBender on August 14, 2012, 08:13:33 pm1991 Honda Accord (LX?), Passenger Side towards the front of the foot area.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2012, 08:57:49 pm
content: Ahh so this isn't in the engine bay. Well to be honest, you could probably just use a 105*C cap. That won't be getting too hot I don't think.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2012, 12:25:00 am
content: 105C caps at 5000 hours would be plenty ...

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2012, 04:02:15 am
content: FenderBender and T4p say 105C caps would do so I'll be getting caps locally. Am I SOL with the resistors without the parts list/schematic? those things are fried and without coating.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2012, 04:51:44 am
content: Measure the value, and if they are open measure the value to half way and double it. Most likely a value from 3R3 to 10R if they are on the power inlet.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2012, 04:49:05 pm
content: I'm finally getting around to looking for caps. These values... they're... insane. Is865mAreally an acceptable ripple value?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2012, 09:00:14 pm
content: Actually very good for a 220uF capcommon panasonics frequently come up to me at 420mA ... go figure

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2012, 10:54:58 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on September 02, 2012, 09:00:14 pmmy brain isn't working. isn't higher ripple... bad?edit: these are the ones I ordered:http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/EEU-EB1H221/P13131-ND/813865http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/UPJ1C331MPD6TD/493-5023-1-ND/3129360I got two different ones because some posts on various forums note different caps squirting. the non-220uF being the most common whereas the one that blew on mine was... not noted.

author: gxti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 12:00:18 am
content: The ripple current rating of a capacitor is the highest AC current you can put through it without causing damage. More is better.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 11:56:34 am
content: Quote from: gxti on September 03, 2012, 12:00:18 ambut it's going in a car... I think it's all DC anyways.

author: gxti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 08:46:21 pm
content: That's a very misguided conclusion, to put it lightly. Unless you know how the capacitor is being used or at least have a schematic, you can't make any blanket statements like "it's all DC". It could be part of a switching power supply where it is subjected to high levels of alternating current.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 08:47:39 pm
content: Quote from: BigBrother on September 03, 2012, 11:56:34 amBecause cars are all a nice, stable, clean 12VDC. Totally not ~14VDC with massive amounts of AC ripple and severe under and overvoltage surges.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2012, 02:11:40 am
content: Lower ESR usually = higher ripple current rating. Just in case you were wondering.

author: Flunze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2012, 05:38:30 am
content: Quote from: BigBrother on August 14, 2012, 01:54:55 pm1F? Whatever.You should put at least 2 in parallel, if you CAN do this, cause this will help against ripple currents. I am making a PSU soon and have only 85°C rated Caps. They where cheap. (2 Outputs) But I will put 2x10x2,2mF Caps in parallel, this definitely will elliminate any Ripple current from being to high, cause it splits over all the caps. This is not just much saver, it also costs a lot more. It only needs a few holes more on the PCB, but that is not a problem.Do it like me, to save money.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2012, 04:08:36 pm
content: Quote from: Flunze on September 04, 2012, 05:38:30 amyou want me to put 2 caps in an already restricted space? I spent an hour making sure the caps I bought were small enough with the right lead width.

author: Flunze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2012, 07:37:02 am
content: You don't have to.It is just working much better, but if it does not fit inside, you cannot, of course. But if you want design something with high riplles, use more Caps in parallel, this will be much better.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2012, 11:11:36 pm
content: Quote from: Flunze on September 05, 2012, 07:37:02 amWhen you say in parallel... do you mean that it goes in one side of a cap, out the other side, into another cap like the first and repeat? I remember something like this being mentioned somewhere and saying that it was good up to like 3 or 4 caps and over that, it was just dangerous because of an effect it brought up.

author: BigBrother
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2012, 01:02:56 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on September 03, 2012, 08:47:39 pmso... I should've bought caps with a larger ripple rating? something like 1.4A?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2012, 11:46:08 am
content: Of course they must be 4x the intended capacitance for paralleing, this helps alot in automotive applications

author: gxti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2012, 07:32:07 pm
content: Quote from: BigBrother on September 07, 2012, 01:02:56 amJust use whatever you've got. Worst case it blows up again and you can try something beefier. If the replacement part is the same physical size as the old one then it'll be close enough, because higher-current caps are larger.