Testing Capacitors

[Crackle]

I thought I would mention on here a thread I started on UKVRR regarding testing some capacitors, in case you had not seen it.
The capacitors in question were sold on Ebay and were alleged to be Metallized Polypropylene 630v.
I SHOULD SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT SUNTAN CAPACITORS which are often sold on Ebay and sold by Rapid. (But they did look similar)

I was impressed with the delivery from China, which only took 8 days.
But I was concerned with the 4.7uF and 2.2uF ones because of their size.

I decided to do some tests. This thread deals with the results.

I have now received a full refund.

Mike

[Nowhere-Man]

I am not surprised. This is why I'm seeking genuine companies abroad that do reliable components. I had best not get into my opinion of Ebay but I can tell you I don't use it now whatsoever. In many ways you could say that's inconveniencing me the most but I prefer to do direct deals with reliable companies. Just Radios in Canada seems OK but a pity about the postal fees.

[Crackle]

I have no problems with Ebay it is an easy place to buy, but there are some dodgy sellers, Ebay do look after the buyer though.
The seller of these capacitors did not even reply to my request for a refund but Ebay automatically refunded the money after the allotted time, no questions asked.

I have recently had a couple of attempts at buying in auctions via "The Saleroom".
If you are lucky to win an item you have to add up to 20% buyers fees, then add an internet premium , (then add the £25 for postage of a small transistor radio) and then add your VAT.
"Real" auctions are pointless unless you can travel to them.

It all make Ebay seem like the bargain of the century.
I also like Paypal, it is the simplest way to pay, you dont have to keep setting up personal accounts, and prevents you having to leave your bank details all over the internet with all sorts of companies.
Mike

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
I have no real issues with eBay. One odd thing happened to me on a gas fire I bought, the seller died a few days after the purchase and I never received it. EBay eventually refunded me.

[Old Sparky]

I've seldom had problems with anything bought from eBay sellers - in fact the only one I can think of was non-delivery of some DVDs. I recieved a refund in that case. As for PayPal, I wish all companies would accept it for the reasons stated by Mike (Crackle)

[Nowhere-Man]

I won't get into my thoughts on Ebay. My only request that I make (wherever I go) is I'm not at all keen on it being recommended. I am now making some effort to buy my spares from Russia so as to bypass the beaten path. For example, I found a Russian brand of HT smoothing capacitor priced in roubles (add postage). The sales dep stocked both Chinese and Russian electrolytics. Many capacitors I can get from Maplins but not the large electrolytics.
The thing about Ebay is all the transactions are passing through a third party (American bank accounts) but the irony is much of this stuff is domestic produce (such as Bush, GEC or Cossor. Plus, I can choose to buy Russian valves either direct or through Ebay. Cost wise I've yet to discover how it plays out.
I am informed Russia is now rebooting the domestic electronics industry and microchips. Prior to that they were importing first from the USA and after from China.

[Crackle]

If you are comparing prices and availability of components for vintage valve radios with what is available from Maplin then you may as well try getting them from one of Jupiter's moons.
There are lots of places other than Maplin to buy from at much better rates.

I expect you know this already, but if buying direct from overseas, there is no formal way to resolve problems and recover your money if items are lost in the post, or damaged or faulty.

Mike

Here are just a small selection of suppliers, I cant vouch for them all myself but they are reported as being reliable to deal with.

http://uk.rs-online.com

http://uk.farnell.com/

http://cpc.farnell.com/

http://gb.mouser.com/

http://www.stewart-of-reading.co.uk/

http://www.justradios.com/

http://www.valves.uk.com/

http://www.bluebellaudio.com/

http://www.emkaysupplies.co.uk/

http://www.rapidonline.com/

http://www.partridgeelectronics.co.uk/

https://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com/

http://www.littlediode.com/

www.langrex.co.uk

www.sycomcomp.co.uk

http://www.watfordvalves.com

[Nowhere-Man]

I found Farnell's not very user friendly but maybe I lack patience. Just Radios was actually about the best site I found and quite cheap but the postage is where the costs rise.
I did just find this capacitor on a Russian sales site although I haven't checked it out yet in any detail. 280 roubles. I'm sure there will be no end of vendors on Ebay who came to live in London with a case full of Russian capacitors.
Actually today I've had my work cut out. I've had to really swat up now on my Russian capacitor rating system. The so-called red Square ones Miguel advised to change temporarily had me a bit stuck on the code.
I also attempted today to join a genuine Russian vintage radio forum and I did find one in the end just like this one. However, I had major struggles with those stupid Catcha things I couldn't decipher.

[Crackle]

That looks like a capacitor for electric motors, I think they sometimes have a built in resistor to discharge it.
I would not use anything like that.
Mike

[Nowhere-Man]

Neither would I for that matter. It's a motor-run capacitor. They do stock electrolytics but I've not found any smoothing capacitors there. At least the forum I joined does seem to be a genuine Russian based vintage radio forum. Should be fun.