Why is it so hard to buy electrolytic caps for valve amps in this country?

robinbowes · April 2015

I'm working on a couple of Traynor amps and want to replace the electrolytic caps bypassing the cathode resistors. They're 25uF / 25V. Why can I not find anywhere in the UK that sells them at a reasonable price? I guess I can use 22uF instead, but still - they're readily available in the US. Bah!

R.

nutbox · April 2015

I found some on eBay,try there buddy And they were £1.50 for 10

MtB · April 2015

I have struggled with this as well, and ended up using Tube Amp Doctor in Germany (from whom I have had very good service).

randomhandclaps · April 2015

They are massively overpriced here if you what something that isn't 1uF, 2.2uF, 3.3uF, 4.7uF, 10uF, 22uF, 33uF, 47uF, 100uF etc. Other than Tube Amp Doctor, also in Germany, Banzai do a good selection at a reasonable price but as I mentioned in a thread a few weeks back their service level leaves a fair bit to be desired - an experience others echoed.

https://www.banzaimusic.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1&keep_https=yes

You will get your bits but expect to wait 7-10 days

Mick · April 2015

Haven't a clue about this stuff tbh, but have you tried rapidonline.com 22uf 25v Axial Electrolytic Capacitor

Danny1969 · April 2015

The tolorance on these kinds of caps mean a 22 could be higher than a 25 anyway so don't fret it

ICBM · April 2015

22uF and 25uF are the same thing when it comes to electrolytics.

robinbowes · April 2015

Yeah, I know 22uF is essentially the same thing, but it just bugs me that these things are readily available in the US (eg. newark.com) but not over here.

I've got any number of 22uF/25v caps (just had a rummage around and found a bag of 90!).

R.

GuitarMonkey · April 2015

Try Phil at Blue Bell Audio

exocet · April 2015

I use this place.

http://www.audiocap.co.uk/ft-axial-22uf-63v-10x30mm-a22006310030-408-p.asp

robinbowes · April 2015

Good call. I've bought a load from them on ebay - they're selling off a lot of stock. I didn't see 22uF on their ebay site and didn't think to go back to the website!

R.

Emp_Fab · April 2015

Any good ? :- http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/passive-components/capacitors/aluminium-capacitors/?applied-dimensions=4294337691,4294466465&esid=cl_4294967294,cl_4294959626,cl_4294955811&m=1

MtB · April 2015

I've also used these guys - though not sure about how they compare price wise. I have always has very good service from them.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/-c-61_68_432.html ;

robinbowes · April 2015

Emp_Fab said:

Any good ? :- http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/passive-components/capacitors/aluminium-capacitors/?applied-dimensions=4294337691,4294466465&esid=cl_4294967294,cl_4294959626,cl_4294955811&m=1

Yeah, they're the ones, but bloody pricey. I think the last ones I bought I got a friend from the US to buy and send over to me.

R.

Emp_Fab · April 2015

How many do you need ?

robinbowes · April 2015

@Emp_fab - I don't actually need any

In this instance, as others have pointed out, I can use more common 22uF values (of which I have many).

I was just ranting, because the same problem applies in many cases when looking for replacement caps for valve amps.

R.

ICBM · April 2015

Given that it's almost certainly nothing more than the printing on the outside and not a real difference in value, why does it matter? Even if there is a measurable difference it's likely to be inside the tolerance range of both values, and hence make no practical difference to the sound of the amp.

The whole point of the modern preferred values is that they correctly space the tolerance bands to cover the same range of values which the older "round number" values, which only make sense from a human perspective, did. The numbers (apart from the 1s) look "odd" to humans but that's just a human oddity

.

robinbowes · April 2015

From an electrical perspective, you're right, there's not a lot of difference, and I'm not really too bothered about that.

It's more about the packaging, both from a size and appearance perspective

R.

hywelg · April 2015

http://uk.mouser.com/Passive-Components/Capacitors/Aluminum-Electrolytic-Capacitors/Aluminum-Electrolytic-Capacitors-Leaded/_/N-75hqwZscv7?P=1z0z819Z1z0wqt0Z1z0x758

Just dont look at the price!!

robinbowes · April 2015

Exactly my point!

R.

Danny1969 · April 2015

I know people give a shit what the amp looks like externally (god knows why it's only a tool) but please tell me the're not caring about the appearance of the inside as well !

I seem to remember old elect caps could often be almost 50% more than their stated value or as much as 20% less, so the printed value on the cap was much more a wild stab in the dark then it is now

streethawk · April 2015

robinbowes said:

Exactly my point!

R.

They don't seem at all expensive.

e.g.

Sprague 25uf £1.71

£1.57 at RS.

Granted they rip you off for shipping if you don't order a load of them but just how cheap are they selling for in the States?

hywelg · April 2015

There were two in that list (of 4) that were well over a fiver though.

streethawk · April 2015

hywelg said:

There were two in that list (of 4) that were well over a fiver though.

Yeah, I saw that. Ignore them?

The sprague ones are cheaper than I can get from America at trade prices.

:-O

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Why is it so hard to buy electrolytic caps for valve amps in this country?

Comments