Mounting ClarifyCap PX 100uf: Too big to fit side by side!

[dludingt]

Hey all,

A few weeks ago I ordered and installed a pair of 100uf ClarityCap PX film capacitors. Their diameter is huge: 81mm/ or 3.12", which means they are technically too wide to fit side by side inside of the stock wooden case. The only way they can squeeze inside is if they are staggered a little bit.

Right now I have them tacked in with some double-side tape to keep them from falling out. I made the leads very long when I installed them in anticipation of having to mount them further away from the top plate.

I've done a bunch of research in the forums and elsewhere into my options for mounting these enormous capacitors. I was thinking of staggering them on separate plates or boards, while bolting each plate with a threaded insert into the aluminum top plate. Does anyone have any other mounting suggestions?

 

[2wo]

Is that an LK-48 in the background?

 

[aragorn723]

How about an external chassis for the cap upgrades?  8)

Dave

 

[dludingt]

Is that an LK-48 in the background?

2wo, yes that is an HH Scott LK-48 in the background. I also have the matching LT-110 tuner and they both sound awesome together. There is a 222C/D to the right of the Crack as well. I also have a 299A underneath the bench that needs some work. The LK-48 was my first real entry into tube audio and what an introduction it was replacing all of the coupling caps and plate resistors! Building the Crack seemed quaint compared to restoring a 50 year old push-pull integrated.

An external chassis wouldn't make sense, since I would have to connect/reconnect the leads from the caps if I ever wanted to do any work on the amp. Especially not with the high VDC going through them.

Has anyone made a wider base for the 6"x10" top plate? I'm wondering if I could do something where I add 1 or 2 inches to each side to accommodate the capacitors.

 

[galyons]

Increase space by simply raising the height.  You can gain underside space by simply replacing the stock feet with taller feet.  Use hardwood dowels cut into 3/4-1" segments or dimensional hardwood cut down to 3/4" or 1/2" square as long, (tall) as you need.  Glue and/or screw on.  More space, better ventilation. It is easy to build support platforms using stand-offs to hold even rather large, heavy caps. Although I have yet to add the Speedball, space was reserved for the heatsinks!

I had to add 3/4" tall feet to clear this cap array!

BTW, I have Scott LK48,  222C, 299D & 350 tuner. Get vintage kit!!!

Cheers,
Geary

 

[ZacharyP]

Still my favorite crack cap mounting setup!^^

 

[akis]

If the leads are long enough, could you not have some form of netting at the bottom of the case to catch the caps?