Guys,
Im really embarrased but I have to ask this question.. I recently recieved about 12 boxes of tubes, 11 cabinets full of caps, many more cabinets of resistors. I have looked thru some of this and have PLENTY of parts for repairs.. NOW heres the question.. I understand the capacitance and volt values on caps, but lets say that one of your repairs call for a .001@600, and you need to know what you can put in its place, how do you determine the value needed? as in what will go in place of a .001 and how do you come to this conclusion.. ? Im sorry but I really would like to know how to figure this out.. Im still a beginner and I want to be able to be safe and correct in repairs.. Please dont make fun of me, you can laugh, but do it offline.. Its a new thing to me.. HELP???

:Guys,
: Im really embarrased but I have to ask this question.. I recently recieved about 12 boxes of tubes, 11 cabinets full of caps, many more cabinets of resistors. I have looked thru some of this and have PLENTY of parts for repairs.. NOW heres the question.. I understand the capacitance and volt values on caps, but lets say that one of your repairs call for a .001@600, and you need to know what you can put in its place, how do you determine the value needed? as in what will go in place of a .001 and how do you come to this conclusion.. ? Im sorry but I really would like to know how to figure this out.. Im still a beginner and I want to be able to be safe and correct in repairs.. Please dont make fun of me, you can laugh, but do it offline.. Its a new thing to me.. HELP???
:

::Guys,
:: Im really embarrased but I have to ask this question.. I recently recieved about 12 boxes of tubes, 11 cabinets full of caps, many more cabinets of resistors. I have looked thru some of this and have PLENTY of parts for repairs.. NOW heres the question.. I understand the capacitance and volt values on caps, but lets say that one of your repairs call for a .001@600, and you need to know what you can put in its place, how do you determine the value needed? as in what will go in place of a .001 and how do you come to this conclusion.. ? Im sorry but I really would like to know how to figure this out.. Im still a beginner and I want to be able to be safe and correct in repairs.. Please dont make fun of me, you can laugh, but do it offline.. Its a new thing to me.. HELP??? What I mean to say if you dont have a say .001 @ 600 wvdc then what else could you put in its place, (or how to figure out the correct replacement? Again I know its STUPID to most of you, but to us beginners, its like.. HELP US!! So we can help others later on.. I just want to pass this on to others who may be interested in this in their youth..!
::
:

The answwer is 'it depends'.

You can always substitute a capacitor with a higher voltage rating (say you have a .001 mfd 1000WVDC, that would be OK to replace one with a 600 WVDC,) Never the other way around unless you absolutely know that the actual voltage in the circuit will not exceed the ratings.

Also, usually, but not always, you can replace a capacitor with a little MORE capacitance. For example replace an .047 with an .05 Most capacitors have +-20% tolerence.

Finally, if the stuff you got is 25 years old or more, you will find that the values of the capacitors have crept up, and are leaky. If you have old electrolytics, they will have to be reformed, and may not be able to reach anywhere near their ratings without failing (shorting.)

Resistors and tubes keep indefinitely, although carbon resistors do slowly increase in ohmage after decades.

You can google any of the key words and come up with tons of information. There's lots of good stuff on this and other forums as well. This is a good hobby for youth and geezers as well.

:::Guys,
::: Im really embarrased but I have to ask this question.. I recently recieved about 12 boxes of tubes, 11 cabinets full of caps, many more cabinets of resistors. I have looked thru some of this and have PLENTY of parts for repairs.. NOW heres the question.. I understand the capacitance and volt values on caps, but lets say that one of your repairs call for a .001@600, and you need to know what you can put in its place, how do you determine the value needed? as in what will go in place of a .001 and how do you come to this conclusion.. ? Im sorry but I really would like to know how to figure this out.. Im still a beginner and I want to be able to be safe and correct in repairs.. Please dont make fun of me, you can laugh, but do it offline.. Its a new thing to me.. HELP??? What I mean to say if you dont have a say .001 @ 600 wvdc then what else could you put in its place, (or how to figure out the correct replacement? Again I know its STUPID to most of you, but to us beginners, its like.. HELP US!! So we can help others later on.. I just want to pass this on to others who may be interested in this in their youth..!
:::
::
:

Ok, but here's the actual question.. You said if you dont have a .047, you can replace with a .05.. Thats what I was talking about.. How do you know this, or whats the formula for figuring it out?

Hi Jesse

Modern value for a .05 mf cap is .047 mf. All capacitors and resistors have tolerance. In some circuits values aren't critical but in most cases + or - 20% is reasonable. If a circuit has .05 mf it could be replaced by .04 - .06 mf and be within tolerance.

Norm

:Ok, but here's the actual question.. You said if you dont have a .047, you can replace with a .05.. Thats what I was talking about.. How do you know this, or whats the formula for figuring it out?
:

:Hi Jesse
:
: Modern value for a .05 mf cap is .047 mf. All capacitors and resistors have tolerance. In some circuits values aren't critical but in most cases + or - 20% is reasonable. If a circuit has .05 mf it could be replaced by .04 - .06 mf and be within tolerance.
:
:Norm
:
::Ok, but here's the actual question.. You said if you dont have a .047, you can replace with a .05.. Thats what I was talking about.. How do you know this, or whats the formula for figuring it out?
::
:
In simple terms, follow the schematic, and never go below 20% of the value listed on schematic. Caps have codes, colors on some, numbers on others. Check it out online. Lots of info out there. It is not that hard. Good luck, and most of all, play it safe.

::Hi Jesse
::
:: Modern value for a .05 mf cap is .047 mf. All capacitors and resistors have tolerance. In some circuits values aren't critical but in most cases + or - 20% is reasonable. If a circuit has .05 mf it could be replaced by .04 - .06 mf and be within tolerance.
::
::Norm
::
:::Ok, but here's the actual question.. You said if you dont have a .047, you can replace with a .05.. Thats what I was talking about.. How do you know this, or whats the formula for figuring it out?
:::
::
:In simple terms, follow the schematic, and never go below or above 20% of the value listed on schematic. Caps have codes, colors on some, numbers on others. Check it out online. Lots of info out there. It is not that hard. Good luck, and most of all, play it safe.
:

Thank you all for your kind responses. It was nice to have you all give me some kind of guidence. Cindy's was really informative.. Just make sure I keep it in tolerance of what the schematic says.. And never go below.. Thanks again.. Now to see If I can find the proper caps in all these I have now..

:Thank you all for your kind responses. It was nice to have you all give me some kind of guidence. Cindy's was really informative.. Just make sure I keep it in tolerance of what the schematic says.. And never go below.. Thanks again.. Now to see If I can find the proper caps in all these I have now..
:
:
:
: Hi! Jesse,
If you go to "justradios@yahoo.com" and click on capacitor tips you will find tips, pertaining to tube radio, for beginners.I printed it and kept it handy on my first radio and test equipment repairs.
Bob Masse
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