Panasonic ECQ-V 100V caps

[hetsch]

Hello dear members,

this is my first post here after reading a lot of your helpful and insightful posts.

What currently troubles me are those Panasonic ECQ-V 100V caps in the image below, although my plan is to stock the 50V versions because of their smaller sizes. However, a few days ago I landed on the website of a well-known component supplier who sells those caps as 100V versions. My first question would be if someone has experiences with those 100V caps and can confirm that their bigger size compared to the 50V isn't a problem in guitar pedal building most of the time.

My second question is a little bit harder to explain. You can find these caps that I'm interested in at https://www.mammothelectronics.com/collections/film-capacitors/products/100v-polyester-film-capacitor?variant=25348121287. The strange thing is that they list them as 100V versions with a manufacturer number of e.g. ECQV1H105JL for the 1uF cap. I've looked into the datasheet and 1H (in the number) indicates a 50V version and second, the 100V caps only range up to 0.47uF not 1uF. Has anyone seen a ECQ-V 100V 1uF cap somewhere? I have the feeling that I'm missing something important or that those caps might not be the 100V versions that they think they are (what I don't believe because they are in business much longer than me and they are respected and should know what they are selling). Below is the pic that they sent me showing 1uF 100V and a 0.0022uF next to a penny for getting a sense of size. For me, beside the crappy colors of the pic, they are not much looking like the ECQ-Vs that I've seen elsewhere (in theory ..). Just out of curiosity, do you think that they are ECQ-V 100Vs and would you buy them? Here is the image



Thank you so much for your help!

[italianguy63]

I'm rusty... and been offline for a bit.  So, I am going to try to answer your question "from the hip."

I have some experience with this...  The Panasonice ECQ's are really good quality and desirable.  Also, sometimes hard to find in all the values you want.  There are other good "knock offs" that look alike and work alike for less if you can't find them.

What you are going to find is that the LEG SPACING is the important factor.  i.e. will the cap fit into the circuit board as designed.  If you get slightly too big, or too small, you can bend, and force them.  However, of course the correct leg spacing is desirable.

So, that being said.. you may find a small value ECQ cap may be a 250V cap versus a large value of 50V with the SAME LEG SPACING.-- Catch my drift?  Bigger cap values will have bigger requirements for real estate (of the same voltage) generally.

To bring this to conclusion... 50V or 250V would be fine for pedal applications.. get the leg spacing you need for the job.  Really, for the most part anything OVER 50V is way more than adequate for what we are doing.

MC

[hetsch]

Thank's Mark for your reply, I think I got the importance of the leg spacing. In this case, if you look at the picture and the color and shape of the caps and with all the inconsistent information on their website, my problem is now that I'm not 100% sure if these are ECQ-V caps at all. What I've seen so far is that they darkred/brown and the shape of the 1uF is more boxed. But this might only be my personal paranoia because of buying too much china stuff lately ...

[italianguy63]

I getcha.

I have been able to get some authentic ECQ's from Mouser, and Small Bear.  In the case of not being able to find them, I have resorted to the "China" thing, and actually, the quality of what I found was quite good.  They look just like the Panasonics, except slightly more red/brown and glossier... the Pana's are just a bit more pale.  But, all good.  I have been completely satisfied with them.. It has been about 2 years since I bought them..   If you want me to try to research, I can try to find the vendor for you if it helps.



MC

[PRR]

> Panasonic ECQ-V

Your link does not say "Panasonic". It says "Vikiin".

Just because a maker has copied Panasonic's numbering system does not mean the caps are the same.

The only sources of "Vikiin" that I can find trace back to Mammoth, suggesting it is a "captive brand" made by unknown factories.

Caps ARE a mature product, and mystery makers can do fine. Panasonic was a mystery maker back in 1960, so that's not a warning, just a comment.

[hetsch]

All right! That's my bad (as I thought)! Thank's Mark and Paul, I really missed the Vikiin Logo in the gallery and focused totally on the numbering system. Thank's for all the explanations and help that you offered.