Question on substitution of electrolytic capacitors. If I am replacing a polar 3.3 uf 50v electrolytic with a film capacitor, can I use a 3.3 uf 40v ( AC)/ 63v DC film. Since the capacitor I am replacing is a polar electrolytic, am I right to assume that it is installed in a DC current path and I can safely sub the above speced film?
Yes.
Note that most small value (less than 4.7uF) caps are usually 50V or higher no matter were in the circuit -- it's very difficult to make them at lower voltage ratings as they would be very, very small and likely fail very rapidly.
The only place I know of where substituting films won't work is in the motor circuit of a turntable, where a film won't work as a phase shift cap for some reason.
Note that most small value (less than 4.7uF) caps are usually 50V or higher no matter were in the circuit -- it's very difficult to make them at lower voltage ratings as they would be very, very small and likely fail very rapidly.
The only place I know of where substituting films won't work is in the motor circuit of a turntable, where a film won't work as a phase shift cap for some reason.
Thank you for responding.to my inquiry.
hhaammiisshh
New Member
Digging up this old thread as all of the Nichicon audio caps are end of life.
- Audio grade electrolytics Nichicon UFG, UFW, KW, KZ, KT
I have used the FG & KZ and been very happy with the results.
So what Nichicon series are recommended now?
- Audio grade electrolytics Nichicon UFG, UFW, KW, KZ, KT
I have used the FG & KZ and been very happy with the results.
So what Nichicon series are recommended now?
Same question here!
the recommendations are the same. you just can't get them any longer.
but seriously, time to move away from nichicon. they don't care about us so why support them?
i finally tried these in the signal path, only a tuner so not like it was really critical but it sounds fine.
there is nothing claiming that they are "audio grade" not that that phrase really means anything to most people
The originals were usually good quality general purpose capacitors, not specifically audio grade. The only places I specifically use audio grade, low noise, or low leakage is directly in the audio path as coupling caps or where the manufacturer specified low leakage (typically the orange or yellow Elna caps). For filtering low impedance is more important than low noise. Also true for de-coupling applications when noise is being shunted to ground.
analogwisdom
When in doubt, stuff in a WIMA
(for now) Nichicon still makes the following audio grade caps:
UFW (85°C "Standard, For Audio Equipment")
UKW (85°C "Standard, For Audio Equipment, Higher Grade")
UKT (105°C "For General Audio Equipment, Wide Temperature Range")
UKA (105°C "For High Grade Audio Equipment, Wide Temperature Range")
I've used all of these and they're just fine.
Disclaimer: I don't claim to hear differences in caps. I use Nichicon because I like the way they look (shiny!) and they're affordable.
Chemi-Con makes "Melodio" series audio electrolytics, but they're only sold to OEMs. I emailed Chemi-Con and asked about obtaining them as a hobbyist. The gentleman that replied claimed they were working on getting them to distributors (Mouser and Digikey), but that was nearly a year ago. Sad, I'd like to try them.