RIFA - Replacement Choices

[IammrA]

I've watched enough EEVBLOG that I knew the letters "RIFA" were bad news when I was poking around in an old scope that wasn't turning on.  I quickly looked at the values, and the part numbers one the parts and went looking for replacements.  I tried searching google for recommended replacement parts and got a lot of opinions and strange part numbers.  When I tried a search in Mouser I got some familiar looking KEMET parts.  I thought, great that's what I need!  I was only slowed down by the price at 2-3 bucks each I decided to dig deeper.  The more I look the more I see a trap for new players.  The part numbers don't really matter... or I'm understanding a lot less than I think I am. 

Here is what I think matters when replacing a RIFA cap...the value (0.4uf, or what ever other value) and if it's an X2 or Y2 cap.
I had to do a lot of reading the same thing over and over to understand (roughly) what X and Y capacitors are, but they are for two different types of line filtering. As long as you are replacing your X - RIFA cap with a newer X2 cap of a similiar value you will be fine.  Don't cross your X and Y (replace an X with a new X2 or a Y with a new Y2) keep the values close to the same (slightly higher will probably be ok) and you will be fine. 

My question is...
   Have I got this figured out right, I don't need a specific part number to replace an old RIFA cap, I might be (much) better off not replacing a RIFA with KEMET (as they are now the same company?) just match the values and make sure the X and Y are correct?

[babysitter]

Just buy RIFA again, will give you additional 20 Years. Put a label with date on it. They are quite OK during their life.

[wraper]

When I tried a search in Mouser I got some familiar looking KEMET parts.

If you mean those which look like damn RIFA, they actually are those. Kemet acquired RIFA, it's that simple. Whenever they got fixed or not is a mystery, to which we'll have answer in a decade or two. IMHO simply buy any decent brand X2 film capacitors of suitable dimensions. Y caps can be replaced with ceramic Y caps, they usually are blue.

[IammrA]

Those are the ones to which I was referring.  Thanks for answering, on both counts as it sounds like either answer would work well.  Any X or Y class cap with an appropriate value is an acceptable replacement.

[David Hess]

Any suitable X2 or Y2 capacitor as appropriate with the same capacitance and greater or higher voltage rating will work.  It would be handy of course to have the same lead spacing and a similar or smaller size.  I tend to use plastic film or ceramic instead of paper for replacements.  It is not that critical.