What brand would you choose first: Rubycon, Nichicon, or Panasonic?

[Mr. G]

I've used all sorts of Panasonic caps from Digi-Key for almost 30 years now. I've never had issues with them. Other brands are good too, but I feel best about Panasonic.

 

[Imanoldee]

I know you hate to see this, but it depends on the application in the circuit.

My go to caps are Nichicon, Panasonic, and United Chemicon for electrolytics.
And the various series within the brands to boot.

 

[mbz]

I know you hate to see this, but it depends on the application in the circuit.

Question is a bit unfair, it's really horses for courses?
Main filter caps: Nichicon KW where possible. Better than Nichicon KG type 1&2
For large amps I've tried United Chemicon (ok) Mundorf(?)
Power Supply Caps: Nichicon PW and EP where bipolar required
Signal Path: ELna Silmic II's(Some prefer Nichicon KZ). Nichicon ES for bipolar
Local Power: Elna Silmic II's
Low noise/leakage: Nichicon KL

This is not a vote for Nichicon.

Where possible replace small electrolytics with polyproplyene film.
Still undecided about MKS, yet to do a listening test.

 

[gslikker]

I just want to state on AK, people seem very biased towards Nichicons.

Although I buy not many caps, at work when buying some caps we check out of curiosity and when finding about 30% of Nichicon electrolytic types sometimes well below specified value.

Now, lately having one guy insisting of having originally values repairing some piece of equipment, he bought 180 uF caps while others suggest just put in 220 as we had plenty. So the Nichicons came and they measured 150 to 155, which was some kind of disappointment.

Of course, it just can be bad luck, but for me it is not the preferred brand...

 

[stereoguy70]

I use whatever is available from Mouser at the time I'm placing an order for the values/styles I need based on cost & availability. Brand doesn't matter to me as long as it fits the size/value/type I'm looking for at the time I'm ordering. An electrolytic is an electrolytic, doesn't matter to me who made it, as long as its not one of those horrible cheap chinese ones that was part of the "electrolytic cap plague" from a few years back.

 

[c.coyle]

You need Elna in that list.

But he has Ulna. They have radius leads.

 

[c.coyle]

I like them all but have had very good measurements from United Chemicon and have been using them if I can find the right values and voltages.

I find Chemicon's many, many lines to be a little confusing. It's just easier to go with Panasonic FR, FM, FC and Nichicon PW and HE.

It looks like KY-KZE-KZH and LXV-LXY-LXZ are the closest equivalents.

For general purpose, 105 degree, low ESR, long life electrolytics, what do you recommend from UCC?

 

[daveyh]

Nichicon

 

[quaddriver]

Binford.

Model 9000 widowmakers

 

[loudnoises]

About 15 years ago i needed a bigger cap for a sony es receiver i found on the street. The entire thing is full of FG caps... it started a love affair.

Nichicon are my go-to for rock solid reliable performance. Never once felt that i hadn't improved the sound after using them. I'm considering panasonics for the next PS i do, but... i'll probably stick with the FGs in the end. In the rare case something has a current production replacement from the originally specced mfg, i will try to use that, but there's not much from the last 30 years i waste bench time on.

AK seems biased towards nichcon and elna, but there's not much argument about it all.

 

[Radkat]

No - not the braided material but rather thin tubing made of teflon. You can also use the insulation tubing from wire cut to length and slipped over the leads - much cheaper than the teflon (I just happen to have lots of it from closed down labs).

Gotcha I did not see the 'teflon' in your last post...but that is good to know.

w1 where do you get that stuff at?

 

[w1jim]

Gotcha I did not see the 'teflon' in your last post...but that is good to know.
w1 where do you get that stuff at?

I inherited it when a former employer closed down and I volunteered to clean out the premises (scored all kinds of electronics parts and hardware that were destined for the dumpster).
You can get it at Mouser.com and probably eBay - but it's kind of expensive so if you're just doing a couple of projects I'd use the insulation from hook-up wire. For our non-milspec applications it would be more than adequate.

 

[avionic]

95% of my repairs are Elna and Nichicon.

 

[OMGCat!]

I use mostly Nichicon because I'm familiar with the specific types and I'm a creature of habit. I will usually put Elna Silmics where Rubycon Black Gates came out as the Silmics are around the same size.
I have noticed that the Nichicons can be at the low end of spec but they seem to tighten up as they are used for a short time. Maybe they need to be formed/reformed from sitting a bit?

 

[Electone]

For big filter caps I like Cornell Dubilier, but for everything else, Nichicon seems to have the everything I need. Love the PW series for power supplies and general usage, KL for low leakage and the wide selection of audio-grade caps.

 

[Superampman]

I like them all but have had very good measurements from United Chemicon and have been using them if I can find the right values and voltages. Certainly you need Elna. If you do tube amps Illinois should be in there, also Vishay because they have what were the good Sprague parts. No doubt I'm forgetting somebody important.

National. Long gone. They're in my Bedini 100/100. Big, very big. And blue. Probably the best/lowest bottom end I've 'heard' from an amp.

 

[ConradH]

For general purpose, 105 degree, low ESR, long life electrolytics, what do you recommend from UCC?

I just looked at some recent cap purchases and most were in fact, Nichicon. A couple low leakage KL series, 1 and 10 uF, 50 V and the 2700/100 snap caps I use in Sansui 2000 series receivers. They're 35 mm OD, so fit the original locations perfectly Those are LGU2A272MELC if anybody's interested. They typically come in at 2500 uF with a 120 Hz dissipation factor of 0.086. Leakage current will be 0.6 mA after a few minutes, falling to 22 uA after 15-30 minutes.

The United Chemi-con part I most recently bought was bag of 220/35 as I seem to use a lot of 'em. EKZE350ELL221MJL5S. They come in at about 243 uF with a 120 Hz dissipation factor of 0.033 (nice and low) and a 2 minute leakage of 1 uA.

It seemed I bought a lot of Panasonic FC for a while, but not so much lately.

 

[Radkat]

But he has Ulna. They have radius leads.

It is Elna as I misspelled the option and I could not edit that out...oh well!

 

[quaddriver]

But he has Ulna. They have radius leads.

what are the two bones in the arm?

 

[Radkat]

what are the two bones in the arm?

Wait for it...that is just too Humerus...have a good one!

Further that...if you make too many mistakes with your soldering it will cost you an 'xxx' and a leg...

Some businesses over charge you and make away like 'axmxd' bandits...ok I get it back to favs! LOL