JJ Capacitors...

[FunkyE9th]

Hello,

Anyone ever try JJ caps? Thinking of using it instead of the sprague eletrolytics. Just saw one with 40/20/20/20 all in one can. Any other good alternatives worth looking at?

Thanks!

[Blindog]

I've used 2 of the 50/50 cans in my Traynor YBA-1 without any issues.

They kind of look cool too.


Mark

[dave g]

I think they're just fine. I have a little more faith in F&T cans, though. You can get them pretty cheaply from www.tubesandmore.com.

FWIW, new Atoms are junk.

[billyz]

I have been using the JJ 50/50 can and the 40/20/20/20 can cap. So far so good. I get them from CE with the clamps.

CE is tubes and more only wholesale.

I don't see any F&T 40/20/20/20 though.

I have also used the CE brand 40/20/20/20 can with no issues either. Although, I did hear some rumors about some of the early ones.

[FunkyE9th]

I was just at AES and saw some Solens. I read somewhere that electrolytics eventually dry up which eventually lead to the inevitable cap job. So supposedly film caps are good alternatives compared to electrolytics. Do the Solens fall in the film caps that do not dry up category? I saw 47 and 22 uF. Are they good filter caps? Kinda pricey though...but if it will not require a cap job later, it might be worth it.

[funkmeblue]

the solens would last forever but they are huge. I used the jj 32 ufx2 and the 40 20 20 20 in my 2 hole pool and no problems as of yet

[Structo]

There was an article in Premier Guitar a couple months ago talking about replacing all the electrolytics in an amp with big film caps.

Don't know how viable it is but it sounded good.

[Phil_S]

I put them in my Gibson GA20-RVT (c. 1966). I used a 32+32 to replace the 20+20, and I used the 40+20+20+20 to replace the triple 20, leaving the 40 unused. It was a tight fit, but I shoehorned them in there with a bit of clever bending of the clamps. They work great.

[Structo]

Is it true that electrolytic caps can go bad just sitting on a shelf?

Is there anyway to date them?

[FunkyE9th]

Yup, I read that Premiere Guitar article too. Here's a couple site with some info on shelf life...

http://www.duracap.com/electrolytic_cap ... _guide.htm
http://www.wa4bpj.com/Ham_Radio/Ham_Rad ... acitor.htm

[Cygnus X1]

Huh...I'm a newb...I thought you guys would know all about this!

I have some NOS electrolytic and Can caps.
I slowly re-form them to make them "new" again...and they have held their
predictable life so far.

I use a variac and a silicone diode setup...quite simple.
Maybe someone was tongue in cheek, and I didn't get it.

[FunkyE9th]

My questions were not tongue in cheek. If I got tongue in cheek reponses to my questions, then I didn't get it.

[mhuss]

Reforming is OK if the caps are just dusty and haven't been used in years. However, the electrolyte inside the caps eventually just dries up (after e.g., 25 years, less under heat stress). At this point they stop working well and may eventually pop their pressure seal with messy consequences.

I personally don't use electrolytics with dates codes older than about 10 years from the present date. Kind of like replacing the belts in your car with 15 year-old ones. Note that this includes all LCR-branded caps now. ymmv.

--mark