I ordered a pile a caps from Mouser this week to recap a 20 year old Adcom amp. The amp works fine, but I plan to keep it, so I thought I'd service it as preventative maintenance.
While reviewing my parts order, I discovered the Nichicon KW series 63v 100uf caps they sent me were made in the 32nd week of 2011.
It seems silly to me to start with 5 year old caps, but I though I'd see what others here think.
While reviewing my parts order, I discovered the Nichicon KW series 63v 100uf caps they sent me were made in the 32nd week of 2011.
It seems silly to me to start with 5 year old caps, but I though I'd see what others here think.
I buy most of my parts from them. I am sorry to hear this.
I would not know how to check on the date of manufacture!
Just got some KWs recently though of a different value and voltage.
You would think NICHICON would have recommendations on how long distributors can keep components on the shelf..
MOUSER goes to absurd lengths in their packing of orders. I am sure they learned the hard way about not being careful about this but nonetheless I would have thought this same concern would carry over to old inventory.
Plastic film caps are another story, of course - but electrolytics are far from "lifetime" components.
I would not know how to check on the date of manufacture!
Just got some KWs recently though of a different value and voltage.
You would think NICHICON would have recommendations on how long distributors can keep components on the shelf..
MOUSER goes to absurd lengths in their packing of orders. I am sure they learned the hard way about not being careful about this but nonetheless I would have thought this same concern would carry over to old inventory.
Plastic film caps are another story, of course - but electrolytics are far from "lifetime" components.
So long as the leads are still easily solderable
I am sure you are right as to whether they are usable. I routinely SCOTCHBRITE leads so I might miss out on this!
Are you saying this based upon simple oxidation or from some of the liquid having seeped onto the leads and cause corrosion?
I perceived the concern was about loss of usable life with the cap.
It seems silly to me to start with 5 year old caps, but I though I'd see what others here think.
Very silly, call them for a refund.
Thanks for the comments everyone, I'll be contacting Mouser customer service tomorrow morning.
See the attached a picture of the date codes on a variety of Nichicons, the format seems to be a letter, then the two digit year, then the two digit week.I would not know how to check on the date of manufacture!
Attachments
+ 1It's all in turnover. They can't just throw them out, or you'd never be able to afford to buy parts there. I doubt the manufacturer will take them back. I wouldn't hesitate to use 5 year old caps, just not an issue.
Tarnishing. A fresh device should solder without polishing the leadsI am sure you are right as to whether they are usable. I routinely SCOTCHBRITE leads so I might miss out on this!
Are you saying this based upon simple oxidation or from some of the liquid having seeped onto the leads and cause corrosion?
I have electrolytics in a 33 year old Marshall bass amp that is doing ok and how old were they when they went in ? I'll check next time.
I would want new caps also.
Looks like those were made just past the big capacitor plague of 2000-2007 by a few years.
Capacitor plague - Wikipedia
I would want new caps also.
Looks like those were made just past the big capacitor plague of 2000-2007 by a few years.
Capacitor plague - Wikipedia
I too have the utmost confidence in Nichicon caps. If I was just performing a run of the mill repair, I think I'd use these caps without much worry.
In this particular case I bought new caps to replace 20 year old ones for preventative maintenance, and to indulge my OCD tendencies, as such I don't want to cut any corners.
Mouser gave me a refund for these caps, so I ordered a slightly different version which will hopefully show up with a more recent manufacture date.
In this particular case I bought new caps to replace 20 year old ones for preventative maintenance, and to indulge my OCD tendencies, as such I don't want to cut any corners.
Mouser gave me a refund for these caps, so I ordered a slightly different version which will hopefully show up with a more recent manufacture date.
Many years ago our computers at work had regular 'preventative maintenance'; we called it 'causative maintenance'. Can you guess why?In this particular case I bought new caps to replace 20 year old ones for preventative maintenance
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