Replace Radial Electrolytic with SnapIn?

bmoraru · 23rd November 2010, 06:23 PM

Can anyone tell me if i have a chance of replacing some 4700 uF radial electrolytics with capacitors of the snap-in type? the snap-ins have thicker terminals and larger lead space, how could i possibly fit them on the pcb?

jitter · 23rd November 2010, 08:30 PM

Obviously, they wouldn't fit in the holes of the pcb.

What I would do, space permitting, is tip them on the side and solder short as possible pieces of wire beteen pcb and cap and then glue the caps to the pcb.

Enzo · 23rd November 2010, 10:23 PM

Or if the trace copper real estate will allow, drill new holes to fit. Remove the conformal coating from around the new holes before soldering.

jitter · 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enzo

Or if the trace copper real estate will allow, drill new holes to fit. Remove the conformal coating from around the new holes before soldering.

...which I would only consider if the pcb is single sided or double-sided with the tracks connected to the bottom (solder side) only. If the holes are metallized with tracks on both sides of the pcb connected to them, leave them as they are because if drilling destroys the plating on the walls of the hole you can't get solder to flow to the other side of the pcb (which you can't reach with the iron it because it's under the caps).

DreadPirate · 24th November 2010, 09:49 PM

How about finding caps with equivalent radial leads? They are quite common...

Enzo · 25th November 2010, 08:27 AM

Jitter, your caution is well taken. I was implying such caution in my "if the real estate allows" comment, but you are correct to point it out specifically.

The circuit boards I work on daily that might require such an approach are almost always one-sided.

jitter · 04:36 PM

I work in industrial electronics where single sided PCBs are pretty rare, many are double-sided but most multilayer.

EDIT: " conformal coating" is the clear protective layer applied to fully assembled PCBs that need protecting against humidity/dust/chemicals.
I think you mean the "solder resist coating" that the pcb manufacturer applies to the parts that must not take solder.

Enzo · 27th November 2010, 04:22 AM

I have to admit you are right again. We informally, and incorrectly use the term conformal where we shouldn;t. Whatever it is called, that coating must be removed from the board before solder work.

I work in pro audio, and power amps and power supplies tend to be single sides. There are some very dense boards that are multilayer, mainly in smaller units.

23rd November 2010, 06:23 PM	#1
bmoraru diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bucharest	Replace Radial Electrolytic with SnapIn? Can anyone tell me if i have a chance of replacing some 4700 uF radial electrolytics with capacitors of the snap-in type? the snap-ins have thicker terminals and larger lead space, how could i possibly fit them on the pcb?

25th November 2010, 04:28 PM	#7
jitter diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands	I work in industrial electronics where single sided PCBs are pretty rare, many are double-sided but most multilayer. EDIT: " conformal coating" is the clear protective layer applied to fully assembled PCBs that need protecting against humidity/dust/chemicals. I think you mean the "solder resist coating" that the pcb manufacturer applies to the parts that must not take solder. Last edited by jitter; 25th November 2010 at 04:36 PM.

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23rd November 2010, 08:30 PM	#2
jitter diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands	Obviously, they wouldn't fit in the holes of the pcb. What I would do, space permitting, is tip them on the side and solder short as possible pieces of wire beteen pcb and cap and then glue the caps to the pcb.

23rd November 2010, 10:23 PM	#3
Enzo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lansing, Michigan	Or if the trace copper real estate will allow, drill new holes to fit. Remove the conformal coating from around the new holes before soldering.

24th November 2010, 09:49 PM	#5
DreadPirate diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Virginia, USA	How about finding caps with equivalent radial leads? They are quite common...

25th November 2010, 08:27 AM	#6
Enzo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lansing, Michigan	Jitter, your caution is well taken. I was implying such caution in my "if the real estate allows" comment, but you are correct to point it out specifically. The circuit boards I work on daily that might require such an approach are almost always one-sided.

27th November 2010, 04:22 AM	#8
Enzo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lansing, Michigan	I have to admit you are right again. We informally, and incorrectly use the term conformal where we shouldn;t. Whatever it is called, that coating must be removed from the board before solder work. I work in pro audio, and power amps and power supplies tend to be single sides. There are some very dense boards that are multilayer, mainly in smaller units.

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