Replacement of broken 1uF 50V Z5U capacitor

[Lambert]

Hi all,

I am a newbie to Bottlehead. I bought a mainline kit recently. During my construction, I broke the 1uF 50V capacitor used in tube socket during twisting the leads. The capacitor read 'K5U 105M'. It is a Kemet Z5U cap.

I hardly find exactly the same cap in local store.  Can I replace it by  MLCC 1uF 50V radial  instead? Though the size is a bit  problem.

By the way, I find 1N5820 diodes are missing in my package. I bought 1N5822 from the store (no 5820). It's seemed the 6.3VDC output is a bit lower - It reads 6.25V. Is it fine?

[Grainger49]

Lambert,

Welcome to the community.

Your replacement capacitor will not do.  The Z5U caps are to kill noise on the heaters.  You need the same caps.  You can get them from Bottlehead.  They should be open at 10:00 PST. 

Having 6.25V rather than 6.3 will not affect anything.  But if you are contacting Bottlehead ask for the diodes as well.

Good luck with your build.  The Mainline is complex but a beautiful build.

[fullheadofnothing]

No one will be at the office at 8.

Email all parts requests to replacementparts at bottlehead dot com

[Paul Birkeland]

The 1N5822 has a higher forward voltage drop.  When you contact replacementparts(at)bottlehead(dot)com, I would ask for a set of 1N5820s'.

-PB

[Grainger49]

Since Joshua didn't say what time they open it is 10:00 AM PST.  They are there to 6:00 PM PST.

I edited my post to make it correct.

[Lambert]

Thanks for the advice. I have sent the request to replacementparts already.

It may take a while to wait for the replacements. I'll continue the building in the mean time.

[Lambert]

I have finished the build-up of Mainline using replacement from local store - 1N5822 and a MLCC 0.1uF 50V cap. Fortunately, the amp works perfectly. The sound is awesome.

I found another missing part when I continue with my construction of RCA kit - an insulator sleeve. I understand tiny things have high chance of missing. I am still waiting for the feedback from Bottlehead. I have never got any responds from my request of replacements so far. 

I am in Hong Kong. THE AC voltage is 9% lower (220VAC 50Hz) than the design (120/240VAC 60Hz). Hence I expect lower readings at 275VDC output - but mine is 235VDC. The voltage is around 300VDC when no loads. Is it normal? Anyway, the tube can be based at 145VDC correctly after fine tuning.

[Paul Birkeland]

I am still waiting for the feedback from Bottlehead. I have never got any responds from my request of replacements so far. 

Your package left the day after you sent in the request.

I am in Hong Kong. THE AC voltage is 9% lower (220VAC 50Hz) than the design (120/240VAC 60Hz). Hence I expect lower readings at 275VDC output - but mine is 235VDC.

235V is enough for the regulator to work properly, and that's what matters.

[Lambert]

Thank you. 

[fullheadofnothing]

The package was not sent, Paul's comment was an error. The request was forwarded to Eileen for billing because it was combined with a request for a wood base. Eileen has been out of town and has most likely not seen the request yet.

[Paul Birkeland]

Ah, my bad, I saw a small international box heading out at roughly the same time.

-PB

[Lambert]

Great! I can add the Power Cord Kit into the package to lower the average shipment cost.