How to hold large capacitors in place

MtBiker · 11th August 2005, 04:41 AM

What is the best way to securely hold large electrolytic power supply caps in place when you don't have any of those silver rings that bolt them to the bottom of the amp?

Stocker · 11th August 2005, 04:50 AM

buy the silver rings
or make some
or use the buss bars to hold them, using insulating hardware (not reccommended)

or hot-melt glue (kidding)

DSP_Geek · 11th August 2005, 07:07 AM

Parts Express sell 1 3/8" mounting brackets, and you can find other sizes at Digikey and other online stores. I highly recommend you use them, as a large capacitor coming adrift can cost way more than you save by hot-gluing the thing. I was a repair tech before getting becoming an engineer - you should see the damage a loose cap can cause. It's not worth the trouble to futz around if you can get the real thing by return post.

http://www.surplussales.com/Capacitors/capclmp.html

Francois.

blr-amp · 11th August 2005, 07:45 AM

I think about mounting large (4"height, 2"diam) caps to a pcb using its screw terminals. I don't know whether the screw terminals are strong enough. What do you think?

Gasho · 11th August 2005, 09:30 AM

Cap should be holding PCB.

owen · 11th August 2005, 09:43 AM

Plastic plumbing pipe clips that screw to the wall.

They come in a wide range of sizes from 1/2" upwards...

Owen

maf_au · 11th August 2005, 09:49 AM

I was thinking about some of these:

http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=H4120

(they're nylon cable tie mounts with adhesive/screw points)

and some decent HD Cable ties to suit...

The standard mounting hardware is not always convenient.

Michael

Sch3mat1c · 12th August 2005, 04:17 AM

Hot glue never holds, I've even tried cleaning the spots with acetone.

If you don't have the metal clamp rings, make some! If I need to strap caps flat to a chassis I just cut a strip, bend it around the cap and bend a tab on the end (after cutting to proper length), drill for the screw and tighten it down.
With some fancier tin-snip work you can cut wings on it to mount the cap vertically through a hole, recreating commercial items.

Tim

MtBiker · 12th August 2005, 04:21 AM

Aluminum flashing. I just happen to have some, and I think that might be just the material for creating the rings myself. It may prove too soft, although maybe I could double up the thickness. Worth a shot anyway...

SY · 12th August 2005, 04:39 AM

Don't laugh, I've had excellent luck with Liquid Nails or similar construction adhesives. It looks unbelievably awful, but it holds tight for years and even provides a modicum of damping.

11th August 2005, 04:41 AM	#1
MtBiker diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Northern Virginia	How to hold large capacitors in place What is the best way to securely hold large electrolytic power supply caps in place when you don't have any of those silver rings that bolt them to the bottom of the amp?

11th August 2005, 04:50 AM	#2
Stocker diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin	buy the silver rings or make some or use the buss bars to hold them, using insulating hardware (not reccommended) or hot-melt glue (kidding) __________________ Jesus loves you.

11th August 2005, 07:45 AM	#4
blr-amp diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bavaria	capacitor mounting I think about mounting large (4"height, 2"diam) caps to a pcb using its screw terminals. I don't know whether the screw terminals are strong enough. What do you think?

11th August 2005, 09:49 AM	#7
maf_au diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Adelaide	I was thinking about some of these: http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=H4120 (they're nylon cable tie mounts with adhesive/screw points) and some decent HD Cable ties to suit... The standard mounting hardware is not always convenient. Michael __________________ My AudioProjects Gallery

12th August 2005, 04:17 AM	#8
Sch3mat1c diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI	Hot glue never holds, I've even tried cleaning the spots with acetone. If you don't have the metal clamp rings, make some! If I need to strap caps flat to a chassis I just cut a strip, bend it around the cap and bend a tab on the end (after cutting to proper length), drill for the screw and tighten it down. With some fancier tin-snip work you can cut wings on it to mount the cap vertically through a hole, recreating commercial items. Tim __________________ See my Electronics webpage -- the home of Vacuum Tube Drag Racing. The key to being a successful Audiophile: "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"


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11th August 2005, 07:07 AM	#3
DSP_Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California	Parts Express sell 1 3/8" mounting brackets, and you can find other sizes at Digikey and other online stores. I highly recommend you use them, as a large capacitor coming adrift can cost way more than you save by hot-gluing the thing. I was a repair tech before getting becoming an engineer - you should see the damage a loose cap can cause. It's not worth the trouble to futz around if you can get the real thing by return post. http://www.surplussales.com/Capacitors/capclmp.html Francois.

11th August 2005, 09:30 AM	#5
Gasho diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Zagreb	Cap should be holding PCB.

11th August 2005, 09:43 AM	#6
owen diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shilton	Plastic plumbing pipe clips that screw to the wall. They come in a wide range of sizes from 1/2" upwards... Owen

12th August 2005, 04:21 AM	#9
MtBiker diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Northern Virginia	Aluminum flashing. I just happen to have some, and I think that might be just the material for creating the rings myself. It may prove too soft, although maybe I could double up the thickness. Worth a shot anyway...

12th August 2005, 04:39 AM	#10
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	Don't laugh, I've had excellent luck with Liquid Nails or similar construction adhesives. It looks unbelievably awful, but it holds tight for years and even provides a modicum of damping. __________________ "...we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.” - Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

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