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drtechno · 10th February 2010

before capacitor companies had to conform to printing numbers on their capacitors, some used color codes. and they differed between manufacturers too on the tantalums,

the polypropylene used standard color code for numbers from the the top to bottom it was first number, second number, multiplier (in picofarads), tolerance.

on the tantalums I remember, the stripe down side was voltage indicated positive lead

and the "legs" were colored positive and negative tolerance, positive tolerance on the voltage stripe side.

you shouldn't have to replace those tantalum caps unless you are having issues with voltage sags or noise. tantalums usually don't go bad unless you subject them to temperature extremes. If they are part of an EQ on a mixer, then I'd change them every 10 years so the eqs are constant across different channels on the mixer.

I'll look and see if I had some of the old "standards" capacitor color value charts.

the red-orange spauges were 5% precision poly caps

the black kement is a solid tantalum cap, pointed tip positive

silver one with black letters, electrolytic crimp rim indicated positive if not marked positive lead

silver one with red numbers, tantalum, value in nanofarads, stripe indicated positive lead

round 2 polypropylene caps .047 uf and .1 uf body measurement dictated voltage rating.

10th February 2010	#9
drtechno Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 602	before capacitor companies had to conform to printing numbers on their capacitors, some used color codes. and they differed between manufacturers too on the tantalums, the polypropylene used standard color code for numbers from the the top to bottom it was first number, second number, multiplier (in picofarads), tolerance. on the tantalums I remember, the stripe down side was voltage indicated positive lead and the "legs" were colored positive and negative tolerance, positive tolerance on the voltage stripe side. you shouldn't have to replace those tantalum caps unless you are having issues with voltage sags or noise. tantalums usually don't go bad unless you subject them to temperature extremes. If they are part of an EQ on a mixer, then I'd change them every 10 years so the eqs are constant across different channels on the mixer. I'll look and see if I had some of the old "standards" capacitor color value charts. the red-orange spauges were 5% precision poly caps the black kement is a solid tantalum cap, pointed tip positive silver one with black letters, electrolytic crimp rim indicated positive if not marked positive lead silver one with red numbers, tantalum, value in nanofarads, stripe indicated positive lead round 2 polypropylene caps .047 uf and .1 uf body measurement dictated voltage rating. __________________ In live sound, we make the band one with the environment, In recording, we define the environment in which the vision of the song is recorded.