Skip or keep?

[abaxas]

Hi all,

Been having a sort out and found my old electronics kits from 20+ years ago. Obviously I'm going to keep all the semiconductors but bin most of the rest... so the question is.... skip or keep?

Electrolytic caps.....skip or keep?
Polyester film caps....skip or keep?
Ceramic caps....skip or keep?

My mind thinks skip the electrolytics but keep the rest, anyone agree?

[w2aew]

I'd say keep it all.  Certainly there is no issue with the film or ceramic caps.  If the electrolytics are from a decent manufacturer, never been used, and stored in a reasonable environment, they are most likely just fine.

[abaxas]

They are all circa 1990/1(ish) vintage gemcon caps.

[Richard Crowley]

Certainly keep the poly and ceramic caps.
There is no significant time/temperature related degradation process as there is for electroltics.

Get one of those $20 LCR/Transistor testers and check the ESR of the electrolytics.
They may all be still good as well, but testing will confirm one way or the other.

[wraper]

Throw away those electrolytics. Even if they measure OK now, they may die a bit later. Also if voltage was not applied on the electrolytic cap for a very long time, oxide layer becomes thinner. So if you power such a cap with a higher voltage (e.g. half of the rated), there may be huge leakage current. Therefore it may get hot, electrolyte starts to emit gases, and cap may blow up before the oxide layer gets formed. I experienced it myself with some large NOS capacitors.

[deth502]

ive had odd value caps that i salvaged from vintage 1970's electronics and had/still have them working fine after years of use. not to mention i have vintage 60's and 70's electronics with the original caps in them still working fine.

i side with "double check them with a cheap esr meter before hand" and go option.

[Aspiringloser]

You could send them to me.