These caps look similar to orange drops and are about the same physical size but are shiny black and appear to have a plastic coating. What type of caps are they and are they likely to be problematic? Most of the ones I'm looking at are .01 value
thanks,
Sandy

Are there any numbers or color bands/dots stamped on the capacitor and can you post a photo? I could take a wild guess at it's condition if I knew it's voltage rating and where it is used in the circuit. Typically, capacitors made of paper covered with wax are problematic while ceramic and mica types are not.

http://capacitor.tedss.com/VisualGuide.asp

+1 for a photo

Carl

Technical difficulties have prevented getting a photo. I'll try again.
Sandy

I'm sorry you are having camera trouble. The one I use is an inexpensive Panasonic DMC-LZ7 that has a macro setting for close-up and intelligent ISO that is helpful under low light condition. Sometimes flash works well, other times, not so great. It depends on the subject matter and reflectivity.

Here is a helpful page on capacitors. If you read all 9 pages, you'll know more than you want to know about capacitors. Page 5 has some nice tables. However, they only show a few of the vast array of capacitor types out there.

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/cap ... cap_1.html

After "orange drops" came out, other cap manufacturers (CDE, Elmenco, Arco, Mallory etc) imitated the construction in various colors (black, rusty brown, dark blue, sky blue, pine green, red, yellow, ochre and even bright orange). All had radial leads like "orange drops." The colloquial name for all of them is "dips."

From your description, I'm guessing you have some Mallory dips, and they should be made like (or at least equivalent to) the "orange drops" (plastic films such as Mylar).

Agree, pix would help for positive ID.

Larry

Thanks for the replies. You're right about that site, everything you wanted to know about caps. I think it is correct that the caps I have are Mallory dips.
Sandy

How did you determine they are .01 uF and do you know the voltage rating? I'm guessing they were used by someone in the past to repair the radio as the originals are usually made of paper & foil covered with wax. If they are in fact film capacitors of the correct voltage rating, then they are probably not causing trouble. Usually, the electrolytic and wax capacitors are the trouble makers.

Does your cap look like this?
http://www.leedsradio.com/images-caps/1 ... allory.jpg

Similar to the posted image but longer, more of a cigar shape. Capacity and Volts printed on the cap.
Sandy

You forgot maroon

Carl

Oh I get it now. You hold the capacitor up to your head like the Great Karnak and I guess it's value. I'm going to say .01 MFD @ 600 WVDC.