Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Nathan on August 24, 2023, 02:02:40 pm

Title: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: Nathan on August 24, 2023, 02:02:40 pm

Hey all I have only ever seen the black and gold F&T electrolytics until today I see they make some in light blue (talking Axial leads, resemble Atoms). Far as I can tell there is no difference in spec but blue ones are a lot cheaper at least at one retailer. What say you?     

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: dogburn on August 24, 2023, 04:17:28 pm

Can you share a link to these blue ones? Sounds odd.

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: acheld on August 25, 2023, 09:56:39 am

F&T do have a line of (metallic blue) electrolytic caps designed for industrial applications (mostly), but these are NOT axial caps.   I have never seen an F&T axial cap -- whether film or electrolytic -- in metallic blue.  And, I spend a fair amount of time on their website looking at specs.

So, it's certainly possible that such a product exists, but I'd be skeptical.

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: Nathan on August 25, 2023, 10:01:06 am

Yes for sure. You see this shop actually sells both colors (axial) and I need the 30uF/500V for my current build:

https://partsconnexion.com/search?type=product&q=f%26t* (https://partsconnexion.com/search?type=product&q=f%26t*)

They are both marked 'Typ A, IEC 60 384-4' but at $5.41 CDN  = $4 USD that's dirt cheap. They go for $11-15 USD all day elsewhere. Could be an error on their part? I also never seen the blue ones which is why I'm asking. Either way I'm getting some (though I would prefer the black & gold purely for esthetics). 

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: plexi50 on August 25, 2023, 10:54:44 am

Cant get pages to load. says error. Then has no cap values that i have typed in. Weird!  Ohps now it's working.

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: Willabe on August 25, 2023, 11:17:30 am

I thought F&T sold to a different company?

I thought they changed their shrink wrap label?  :dontknow: 

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: bmccowan on August 25, 2023, 11:58:57 am

F&T uses both blue and black shrink wrap. From what I have seen and bought, the blue is used mostly on cap cans and dual axial caps. The black is used mostly on single axial caps. The 30uf axial seems to be an anomaly. I have received them in both colors. F&T pricing is non-sensical and I doubt the wrap color is a guide. From most vendors the 16uf 500V sell for double the price of the 22uf 500V - go figure?
And yes they did merge with another company - Mersen - or something like that. The capacitor industry seems to be very fluid these days. Eventually Vishay is going to own them all.

Title: Re: F & T Caps -- Black vs Blue?
Post by: mresistor on August 25, 2023, 03:02:14 pm

Quote from: bmccowan on August 25, 2023, 11:58:57 am

Eventually Vishay is going to own them all.

Let's hope not.