Three? pin capacitors

[Tim F]

Advice please
I am new to forum and building amplifiers
I am just starting to assemble parts for an Aleph 2
I want to get some capacitors for the power supplies and am planning on about 120000uf 63v per channel
I have looked on www.brigarelectronics.com site and they list some computer grade capacitors of 15000uf 63v would 8 of these per channel be ok and if so can someone tell me what the THIRD pin is for (I am not planning to PCB mount these)
thanks in advance
any help appreciatted

[seangoesbonk]

the third pin is not connected to anything.
When you design a board you make a hole for the third pin. The third pin will not fit in the hole if you try to insert the capacitor into the board the wrong way(with the polarity reversed)

[Keld]

sometimes there are extra legs on bigger caps so when PCB mounted they will be more stable; the legs then will have no connections.

[pinkmouse]

Hi Tim

I have looked on www.brigarelectronics.com site and they list some computer grade capacitors of 15000uf 63v

You might want to bear in mind that they are in the US, shipping and taxes might wipe out any savings you might make.

You could have a look at Maplin or RS components for UK dealers.

[Tim F]

Thanks for the help on what now seems such a stupid question also thanks to pink mouse for checking the site.
I've a friend who has 'volunteered' to bring some stuff back when he returns to UK next week so hoping to get it sorted in time
Bye the way they are for my best attempts to build an Aleph 2
I,ll try not to be too much of a pain during the proceedings

[peranders]

Originally posted by Tim F
Thanks for the help on what now seems such a stupid question also thanks to pink mouse for checking the site.

Stupid questions aren't stupid if you don't know the anwer. It's also wise to ask before you do something "stupid". Many things aren't obvious. When I was young I hadn't any to ask. I envy you guys who has internet now as an information source.