Capacitor brands? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 06:30:21 pm
content: Searching for "Genuine" on Aliexpress, I ran into a few names:CnikesinRubyNichiconBolsaNzluliyuanJAmiCONSoshinRIFAKEEZELNESSCAPI am sure there are many others. I did hear about Nichicon but there are tons of other brands out there, and some are relatively expensive. Which are good?Normally I don't need quality capacitors for simple circuits/learning so I'm just curious for reference.

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 06:36:49 pm
content: Never buy capacitors from unreliable sources as there are huge market for fakes.Ali express is not reliable source of goods.There are many good capacitor brands.Not in particular order..RubyconChemi-ConNichiconPanasonicAny of those will do and can be trusted (as brand)I personally prefer Rubycon but for reasons of availability do sometimes use Panasonic/nichicon.There are also many other ok brands but i prefer the above.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 07:03:57 pm
content: Don't ever buy capacitors from China. Especially top brands from the post above. In addition to those there are:Suncon (former Sanyo)TDK (former Epcos)KemetVishayCornell Dubilier - CDEELNAAs well there are cheaper but still decent capacitors as:SAMXONJamiconLelon

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 07:25:53 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on November 21, 2017, 07:03:57 pmVishay and Kemet are not "premium" grade electrolytic manufacturers. Kemet makes fine poly's and Vishay makes fine ceramic caps.I would not recommend ether as first choice for Electrolytics.Cornell Dubilier makes good very large capacity electrolytics but is not preferable in my opinion in small values.Point is if you can get superior caps there is no point use second best (unless one has availability issues)

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 08:13:34 pm
content: FWIW, Mallory made some great aluminum electrolytic capacitors for PSU/UPS types of applications. Fresh units are under the CDE label as Mallory became Cornell Dublier.Might be helpful if you manage to locate NOS Mallory capacitors.

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 08:19:00 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on November 21, 2017, 08:13:34 pmYeah seen them in some high end PSU/UPS applications.Reliability is rather good far as i understand.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 08:40:01 pm
content: Quote from: Bashstreet on November 21, 2017, 08:19:00 pmIt is. Particularly if you keep the thermals below the cap's thermal rating (the lower the better). Under this condition, I've had them last 30+ years (linear PSU for an amplifier; designed to keep temp on 105C rated caps no higher than 55C).Even if pushed to their max temp rating, they're typically rated for 2000hrs of operation.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2017, 09:30:23 pm
content: Capacitors seem to be one of those things that is counterfeited a lot, so definitely want to buy from good sources like Digikey, Mouser etc. AVoid Ebay, Aliexpress, Amazon etc as you don't know what you're getting.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 10:03:11 am
content: Quote from: Bashstreet on November 21, 2017, 07:25:53 pmKemet also makes fine tantalum and ceramic capacitors. Vishay makes a lot of other fine stuff as well, like semiconductors and precise resistors. But you will rarely find Vishay and Kemet electrolytic caps in consumer equipment. Most of those go into industrial, telecommunication, automotive.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 11:47:38 am
content: Vishay electrolytics are ex BC components / Philips / Mullard and Sprague which are high end. They bought them out. Also Vishay sell lots of milspec parts, think Dale RN series. Everything they kick out is extremely reliable over their working life, ridiculously long term availability (I can buy same PN's that are 40 years old with manufacture dates of last year), tight specifications. One of the better manufacturers out there.I always go for TDK/EPCOS, Vishay, Rubycon, Panasonic. Usually cheapest of those gets the business. It's not worth cheaping out these days. If it's twice the cost, it's still nothing in small volumes.Also never buy anything reputable from Aliexpress. Assured supply chains only like Farnell/Element 14, RS (UK), Digikey, Mouser etc. It's actually cheaper and quicker for me to get new stuff from RS here in the UK delivered next day FOC than it is to wait for crap to arrive from aliexpress.Kemet has been around for years. I had an HP power supply dated 1969 with good Kemet capacitors in it! Also milspec wet tantalum supplier etc.I go for AVX for tants as you can pick up part used ex production reels off ebay for bugger all.

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 12:03:37 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on November 22, 2017, 10:03:11 amGood to know...

author: WorldPowerLabs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 02:30:57 pm
content: For electrolytics, I generally stick to Nichicon, Panasonic, or Rubycon. I did once have an issue with Panasonic, where I found a discrepancy between the negative mark on the shrink sleeve, and the negative as indicated by lead length on a part. At that point, quite a few boards had already been assembled and Panasonic was not terribly interested in either covering rework costs or developing a methodology to identify, in-circuit, if any of the caps were backwards (these boards were hand-assembled and the assembly personnel were using the body markings to tell polarity without double-checking the leads). They are still top quality parts and I still use and specify them -- I just wish Panasonic had shown a little more accountability in the matter.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 03:36:46 pm
content: I like to use Wima for the various poly type caps, mainly because the red color looks good.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 03:41:41 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on November 22, 2017, 03:36:46 pmWe all know those go faster.. Err. Is that a desirable trait in capacitors?

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 03:50:57 pm
content: I prefer to use colorful parts when possible. All else being relatively equal, it never hurts to look good. The makers of audiophile equipment know this is true.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 03:57:44 pm
content: Quote from: WorldPowerLabs on November 22, 2017, 02:30:57 pmIt's usually fairly easy to tell the polarity of an electrolytic capacitor. It will behave like a poor quality diode junction. It should look like a capacitor when connected correctly and a diode with a relatively high voltage, about 1.5V to 3V, when connected backwards.I've just tested a capacitor using my meter's diode test function. When connected correctly, the voltage slowly increases, until it goes out of range >2V, but when connected backwards, it settles at around 1.7V. The test didn't work with all capacitors. Some will charge to a higher voltage, when reversed biased. Use a 5V power supply and a suitable resistor to limit the current, to a safe level. After reverse charging a capacitor, always reform it by recharging it to near the rated voltage.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 04:07:01 pm
content: Interesting. Will try that here quick as well.

author: WorldPowerLabs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 04:09:08 pm
content: I've definitely noticed the same behavior (usually when troubleshooting equipment), and I'd asked if a simple test like that would, in their opinion, be adequate to determine whether I had any reversed caps -- but the "official" reply was that they wouldn't "guarantee" any in-circuit test at all.Quote from: Hero999 on November 22, 2017, 03:57:44 pm

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 04:13:54 pm
content: It does indeed work. Very handy.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2017, 07:08:03 pm
content: Before there were electrolytic capacitors and silicon rectifiers, there were electrolytic rectifiers, which were pretty poor, even compared to the mechanical and mercury rectifiers of the day. Someone somewhere (anyone know?) realised that an electrolytic rectifier has a high reverse capacitance, which led to the development of the electrolytic capacitor.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier#Electrolytic

author: lisafig
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2020, 06:13:03 pm
content: just a feedback about changxin capacitor bought on aliexpress:They look like this:Quality :