Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: uki on April 28, 2018, 04:14:41 pm

Title: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: uki on April 28, 2018, 04:14:41 pm
Hey guys !

I have seen in many circuit the use of some sort of glue on electrolytic caps, why this practice?
Here one example see pictures: http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=23040.msg249364#msg249364

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: kagliostro on April 28, 2018, 05:19:51 pm
Because they are heavy and can move and break away with vibrations

Franco
Title: Re: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: Backwoods Joe on April 28, 2018, 08:17:24 pm
what is the best glue for this?
Title: Re: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: Stevewdewitt on April 28, 2018, 11:42:50 pm
I glued them, in your example, because they are heavy and they were being held up by the wire only. They are much more stable with the glue. You don't have to glue them for them to be stable. They do need to be flush against a board or clamped down or glued. The glue helps prevent vibration.

I used hot glue. I have seen some people use silicone glue.

Just my experience.

Steve
Title: Re: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: kagliostro on April 29, 2018, 11:12:28 am
Someone uses plastic ties

(https://i.imgur.com/Wtny0s5.jpg)

or other things

Franco
Title: Re: Why glue on electrolytic caps?
Post by: Colas LeGrippa on April 29, 2018, 03:06:54 pm

I used to glue them with silicone which is perfect, very solid. The problem though with silicone is that it takes a while before curing and you can't work on your circuit while it's drynig, the caps are always moving until they freeze ( a couple of hours ).  Now I use hot glue which is almost instant. The prob with hot glue though is that it is less solid than silicone. To solve this problem, I wrap the caps in black hockey tape which is porous to a certain degree and let the hot glue grab them more solid, but this is maybe unneceessary. After a decade I finally found the glue sticks that I had bought (there are clear, white, yellow, black....) in a plastic shopping bag well hidden in a cardboard box containing old income tax papers.. and I use them. Silicone is less expensive if you buy the big tubes. You'll need a gun though....
Ok I stop now:  HOT GLUE IS PERFECT FOR ME.