Tantalum Capacitors

D_Harris

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I'm replacing all the capacitors on my Millipede PCBs.

Two of those capacitors are Tantalum capacitors at C42 and C44. Unfortunately what I received with my capacitor order from Unicorn electronics doesn't look like the capacitors I thought I ordered.

The tantalum capacitors on the PCBs are cylindrical and silver. The invoice I have is for "2.2mf 35v Dip Tantalum Capacitors", and the ones I received are shown on the far right of the picture.

I assume that I made a error somewhere and was hoping that someone can tell me exactly what I should be ordering from Unicorn.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 

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They are tantalum. They just look different and come in different types of packages. I wouldn't worry about it unless you require it to look exactly like the old ones.
 
Some (often older) tantalum caps are (were) in the silver canisters you describe. The ones in you photo are the resin "dipped" tantalum caps that are perhaps more common.

Watch the polarity! Tantalums are electrolytic, and thus polarized.
 
There will be a stripe and/or a "+" marked on the body to indicate the positive lead.
[Note this is opposite of most eletrolytic caps, which have a mark to indicate the negative lead.]

T4u735vspr.jpg
 
Also the positive lead is typically longer than negative. Some are equal length so you have to rely on the markings. It can be really hard to read some of the smaller ones, a magnifying glass is your friend.

There will be a stripe and/or a "+" marked on the body to indicate the positive lead.
[Note this is opposite of most eletrolytic caps, which have a mark to indicate the negative lead.]

T4u735vspr.jpg
 
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