Author Topic: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?  (Read 7224 times)

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Offline h1386343Topic starter

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Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« on: January 20, 2014, 05:49:46 pm »
Hi guys, quick question with regards to replacing failed axial electrolytic capacitors in test equipment with newer, radial ones:

All specs being equal (capacitance, voltage rating etc...)
how would you mount the replacement radial capacitor?

1: mount the capacitor centrally and have equal length + and - leads going to the original PCB holes
2: mount the capacitors + lead as close to the PCB hole as possible and have a long - lead to the other hole
3: mount the capacitors - lead as close to the PCB hole as possible and have a long + lead to the other hole

I was leaning towards option 2, with the - lead running across the board, this would reduce the possibility of the + lead touching anything (lead would obviously be insulated either way) but i wasn't sure if having an extra long ground lead would increase susceptibility to interference or anything? increase the inductance of the capacitor and increase ripple current?

The capacitors that need replacing are in the power supply section of an old 'scope if that has any influence on it?

Look forward to getting some replys. I'm fairly sure that theres not going to be too much in it, other than from a best practices point of view, and no long + leads running across the board!
 

Offline SeanB

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Re: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2014, 06:15:54 pm »
As the replacements are likely to be a lower ESR and a smaller size just use 2 or 3, and physically attach the capacitor to the board if it is large ( use either thick superglue or acetoxy free silicone between the capacitor and the board) and if it had some mounts then add a sleeve to get it to the right diameter to fit the mount again.
 

Offline h1386343Topic starter

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Re: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2014, 07:13:13 pm »
yeah the replacements i have are like 1/2 the size of the originals for the same capacitance voltage rating, thats what got me thinking about how to mount them.
With the originals being mounted axially there is a gap of almost 11cm between the mounting holes. This would mean that for either option 2 or 3 i would end up with a long lead across the board. I guess if it was insulated correctly it wouldn't matter which lead it was?

the capacitors are secured to the board with zip ties so ill just replace them too.

What do you normally use to attach larger components to the board? I had a look on Farnell for silicone adhesives but i didn't want to pay for a whole tube if i'm only going to use it for this one repair.
 

Offline Conrad Hoffman

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Re: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2014, 07:15:34 pm »
I use hot glue. Position depends on the space and mechanics. For a really long span I might bend one lead at 90 degrees and install the part sideway on the board right at one hole. A wire then goes from the other lead to the far away hole.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2014, 08:08:04 pm by Conrad Hoffman »
 

Offline SeanB

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Re: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2014, 06:54:44 pm »
Thick gap filler superglue ( the cheap one) works fine for this, though you will find the white bloom from it a bit hard to clean off.
 

Offline T3sl4co1l

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Re: Mounting Radial electrolytic capacitors Axially?
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2014, 11:40:02 pm »
I've done this before..

http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms/Elec_Scope2_lg.jpg

One way to do it... not the best for mechanical support, but some goop would handle that.

Tim
Seven Transistor Labs, LLC
Electronic design, from concept to prototype.
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