Please help me find a replacement electrolytic capacitor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Persimmon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 10:15:31 am
content: Hello there,I have a stereo amplifier (XTZ Class-AP 100 power amplifier) which I use every day. The liquid from both of its8 Marcon For Audio 12 000µF 63V VENT 105°C (M) Ǿ35X50(label says "for audio")electrolytic capacitor came out so I need to replace those. This is at the power supply part of the amp.Been searching online for a week and I simply cannot find a replacement. I know that all of these other brands are also ok: Rubycon, Panasonic, Nippon/United chemi-con, Nichicon, Elna (any other?).But I cannot find one where the- above parameters match (the only somewhat changeable parameter is the size)and- it is "for audio".(And I'm also wondering if this "for audio" actually matters. ChatGPT said it's just for marketing but I don't know that)But anyway, could you suggest me webshops where I could fine that?I know what you think "just google and you'll find". But no, either "for audio" is missing, or it's not 105C but 85C or it's JCCON (which I heard it bad) or the brand of it is not displayed (so probably some cheap thing)Where would you order the above capacitor from if you wanted to be sure you order a high quality product?Thanks,Levente

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 11:11:19 am
content: "For audio" is a marketing BS for the most part. Also it does not matter at all for power rails. So any 12 000µF 63V 35mm diameter capacitor will do the job just fine. Just don't buy them on ebay or aliexpress as there are tons of counterfeits.QuoteEven AI knows it's BS.12000uF is not that common. It's much easier to get 15000uF. But if you want the exact capacitance there is Mouser, Farnell, Digikey. You don't need 105oC rating. Not to say I suspect those capacitors are fake because 105oC rating for large can capacitors is not that common, and in combination with "for audio" almost non existent. Marcon stopped existing about in mid 90's on top of that. So seeing them in recent Chinese equipment rings the bells. Them going bad proves the point as such capacitors generally last a very long time.https://www.digikey.lv/en/products/detail/united-chemi-con/ESMH630VSN123MA45U/13247108https://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/United-Chemi-Con/ESMH630VSN123MA45U?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvwFf0viD3Y3a3yb5D6sPUg6RPQXGGoFabctknik%2FGh5Q%3D%3DIf you add something else to the order to reach EUR 50 before VAT, you should get free DDP shipping in both places.If still want 105oC rating, you can get these at extra costhttps://www.digikey.lv/en/products/detail/cornell-dubilier-electronics-cde/381LX123M063A052/1700260

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:33:13 pm
content: It's worth checking stated (datasheet) lifetimes of capacitors. Some 105'C caps are rated as low as 1000 hours at rated voltage, temperature and ripple current. Obviously you would achieve much longer at lower temperature and ripple, but it's worth looking for the long life types.A couple of weeks ago I bought some 8200uF 85'C Kemet caps from Farnell (one of the few values they actually had in stock) with life rating of 15k hours at rated voltage, temperature, and maximum ripple current, and 24k hours at rated voltage and temperature. The price difference wasn't significant. Also check the different form factors if there is a choice in the datasheet. Shorter, larger diameter ones tend to have longer life and ripple rating specs than tall thin ones.Obviously at those sort of life figures, it becomes a bit academic, but it's worth going for something that you can be reasonably confident won't ever need replacing again.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 01:16:52 pm
content: With electrolytic capacitors, the simple rule is that the lifetime rating doubles with every 10c below the rated temperature.So if a 1000h@105c capacitor is working in an environment where it's subjected to 95c, you could rate it for 2000h ... 4000h@85c , 8000h@75c, 16kh@65c and so on.As these capacitors are near the linear transformer, the are unlikely to be subjected to more than 40-50c ambient temperature ... so even 85c rated capacitors will last a very long time.I would suspect they probably heat more from the bridge rectifiers or rectifying diodes than from the actual transformer.You don't need "audio grade" capacitors to smooth out the AC output of a transformer, as it won't affect sound quality in any way. If a capacitor affects quality in any way, it would be around the actual amplifier chip, in the audio path. There you can go into discussions about using electrolytic, or mica, or film capacitors etc etc.You also don't need to restrict yourself to 63v rated capacitors, these days they make capacitors capable of handling higher voltages in the same diameter, so maybe look for 80v or 100v as wellAnd while 12000 uF would be preferrable, I think it's gonna work with 10,000 uF as well.Here's some parts that may work, from a company that should sell to you in Hungary.Nichicon LGU1J103MELC 3000h@105c Capacitor: electrolytic; SNAP-IN; 10000uF; 63VDC; Ø35x50mm; ±20%https://www.tme.eu/gb/details/lgu1j103melc/snap-in-electrolytic-capacitors/nichicon/Nothing in stock for 12,000 and 15,000 sadly.Nichicon LLS1K103MELC 3000h@85c Capacitor: electrolytic; SNAP-IN; 10000uF; 80VDC; Ø35x50mm; ±20%https://www.tme.eu/gb/details/lls1k103melc/snap-in-electrolytic-capacitors/nichicon/VISHAY MAL205158103E3 12000h@85c Capacitor: electrolytic; SNAP-IN; 10mF; 63VDC; Ø35x50mm; ±20%https://www.tme.eu/gb/details/mal205158103e3/snap-in-electrolytic-capacitors/vishay/Farnell has a bunch of 10,000uF capacitors ... pasting only 12,000 uF+ links (you can switch language from top right corner, click the flag, or go to hu.farnell.com and paste the capacitor code)(ordered by price, not best "quality")SLPX123M063E9P3 CORNELL DUBILIERhttps://ro.farnell.com/cornell-dubilier/slpx123m063e9p3/cap-12000-f-63v-alu-elec-snap/dp/2841791SLPX123M063E9P3 - Electrolytic Capacitor, 12000 µF, 63 V, ± 20%, Snap-In, 3000 hours @ 85°CALF70C133DF063 Kemethttps://ro.farnell.com/kemet/alf70c133df063/cap-13000uf-63v-alu-elec-press/dp/3521901ALF70C133DF063 - Electrolytic Capacitor,13000 µF,63 V, ± 20%, Press Fit, 15000 hours @ 85°Cand more here (long link) :https://ro.farnell.com/w/c/passive-components/capacitors/aluminium-electrolytic-capacitors/snap-in-screw-terminal-aluminium-electrolytic-capacitors?capacitance=12000uf|13000uf|15000uf|16000uf&voltage-dc-=63v|100v&range=inc-in-stock&sort=P_PRICE

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 03:19:09 pm
content: QuoteIndeed,however if you really want to continue muck spreadinghttps://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/capacitors.htmlwill happily make your wallet lighter

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 03:51:05 pm
content: Do you know what voltage the power rails run at? Unless something very unusual is going on, your 'audio grade' capacitors were junk. If the voltage is over ~55V, then perhaps a 10mF capacitor with a higher voltage rating might be a better choice. 10,000uF should be more than adequate for an amplifier that size, assuming the model name means it is rated for 100WPC.I would use this:https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Cornell-Dubilier-CDE/380LX123M063A052?qs=m9iv7GyUMnFcgzGJrUWDzg%3D%3DYou've gotten other good suggestions as well. Going to a 105C rated capacitor will really not get you anything because if they are otherwise equivalent, the ripple current rating is likely lower. The life at a lower temperature of maybe 35-40C would be long enough either way. If your amp runs hotter than that, then you might want to do something about that. I agree with others that the rating on your originals was likely fake, as well as perhaps all the other specs except the dimensions!

author: Persimmon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 05:34:22 pm
content: Ok, good stuff, very helpful!Yeah maybe I was too much caught up on that for audio thing. If I let that go then I see good candidates on digikey and tme.Thank you all for explaining and for the links too!Levente