"Spargue" Brand Capacitors

[CaptnYellowShirt]

That's right. Not "Sprague" Brand Capacitors.... "Spargue".

This is what I found inside the power supply of my sick Fluke 5200a AC Voltage Calibrator during a recent teardown (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-5200a-ac-voltage-calibrator-teardown-and-repair/).

This one happened to be bad and causing havoc on the rest of the system though the +5V rail. The first thing that came to mind was it was a cheap 'knock off'. But since it was surrounded by other "Sprague" capacitors, maybe this one's a printing error?

Did I find a one-off? The equivalent of a rare stamp misprint? Or is this (as Dave says) a one-hung-low brand?

Anyone else seen anything like this?

[dfmischler]

Did I find a one-off? The equivalent of a rare stamp misprint? Or is this (as Dave says) a one-hung-low brand?

I would say that is one of China's Cheapest (as opposed to China's Finest).

[electronics man]

Did I find a one-off? The equivalent of a rare stamp misprint? Or is this (as Dave says) a one-hung-low brand?

I would say that is one of China's Cheapest (as opposed to China's Finest).

in a fluke?

[dfmischler]

Did I find a one-off? The equivalent of a rare stamp misprint? Or is this (as Dave says) a one-hung-low brand?

I would say that is one of China's Cheapest (as opposed to China's Finest).

in a fluke?

I don't think the OP bought it new.  Who knows whose hands have been in it?

If you google hard enough you will find Spargue capacitors on the web.  I can't say how many are typos of Sprague and how many are cheap crap.

[electronics man]

CaptnYellowShirt does it look like the capacitors surrounding it and were there any signs that it had been replaced before such as flux residue and band soldering compared to otheres joints

[N2IXK]

I'm leaning toward misprint because the 1981 date code predates the rise of the huge Chinese knockoff industry. I have replaced a few of those "computer grade" Sprague electrolytics in HP test gear, so failures aren't exactly unknown for caps of that age.

Do the rest of the components have date codes in the same time period?

[dfmischler]

CaptnYellowShirt does it look like the capacitors surrounding it and were there any signs that it had been replaced before such as flux residue and band soldering compared to otheres joints

Look at the picture.  It has screw terminals.  There will not be any flux residue.

[T3sl4co1l]

Seems like just a typo?!  The font and print and Powerlytic are all correct... if it's an imitation and they can put Powerlytic on it but not Sprague, why, I guess?

If it died, then I suppose that's a very real possibility.  A sample size of one is hardly statistically significant, but it's interesting if true...

Tim

[nukie]

Split with with a hacksaw, inspect.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

I don't think the OP bought it new.  Who knows whose hands have been in it?

Ebay: $78 + shipping... so who knows what horrors  its been witness to.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

CaptnYellowShirt does it look like the capacitors surrounding it and were there any signs that it had been replaced before such as flux residue and band soldering compared to otheres joints

None that looked off hand to me.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

I'm leaning toward misprint because the 1981 date code predates the rise of the huge Chinese knockoff industry. I have replaced a few of those "computer grade" Sprague electrolytics in HP test gear, so failures aren't exactly unknown for caps of that age.

Do the rest of the components have date codes in the same time period?

I didn't even think of the date code. 1981 places it in the right time frame for its original production.

[linux-works]

"which of these is not like the others?"

lol

well, not really lol.  had to spend time returning them and yelling at the seller.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

"which of these is not like the others?"

What? They're all blue. I mean, how complicated could this "electronics" stuff be anyway? You got the green things, brown things... these are blue with the little twisty knob...

[dfmischler]

Do the rest of the components have date codes in the same time period?

I didn't even think of the date code. 1981 places it in the right time frame for its original production.

If it is a misspelled knock-off they will fake the date code too.  Because they might not even know what it is.  Many fake components seem to come with impossible date codes, e.g. 0955 (55th week of 2009).

[Tac Eht Xilef]

I'm leaning toward misprint because the 1981 date code predates the rise of the huge Chinese knockoff industry.

It certainly wasn't on the scale it is today, but fake transistors, resistors, & caps - especially high-spec'd ones - were becoming increasingly common in retail channels in the late 70's / early 80's.

I recall getting some fake Philips HT caps - 16uF / 450VW, IIRC - when I was repairing valve radios back in either 1979 or 1980. Seemed OK in the shop, and it wasnt until I got them home that I noticed they were ~2/3 the weight of the originals and the logo was wrong. Turned out to be 4 smaller unbranded caps in series, stuffed in a can & splashed with wax to stop them rattling...

OP, how does the weight of that one compare to the others?

[CaptnYellowShirt]

OP, how does the weight of that one compare to the others?

That's a good question. We're under a blizzard right now, but I'll let you know when I can trek back to my workshop.

[linux-works]

(in)famous photo about fake caps:



seen this photo on many sites; not sure who to attrib it to, but its fairly well known, as a photo.

[Rigby]

Don't restoration buffs do this?  They want their gear to look stock on the outside and the inside.  I notice that the values don't match, though.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

It reminds me of the 'DARE' program in elementary school where they tried to scare kids away from trying drugs. One tacit was to recount all the weird things drugs can be "cut" with to increase the dealer's profit margin -- baking soda, bleach powder... etc. "You wouldn't want to snort bleach powder would you?" Well I don't know lady, I'm only 8...

[cybermaus]

OP, how does the weight of that one compare to the others?

That's a good question. We're under a blizzard right now, but I'll let you know when I can trek back to my workshop.

If it failed, it may have evaporated, so it could validly be lighter.