Absolute beginner capacitor dimension question.

[budjb]

I've been looking at some of these DIY effects project and I'm absolutely sold on trying to build one myself.  I've got a couple amp emulation projects I'd like to do, and they have complete layouts and PCB images, which should make my life easier.

My problem is in trying to figure what parts to order.  The parts that tend to differ a lot in type and size are the capacitors.  Most of the caps called for are film capacitors, but film box caps are specifically called for as well.  Mouser's site is a bit daunting to me but I figured out that it's easier to use their PDF catalog and find the things I'm looking for, and I've found that Xicon and Vishay make a lot of the caps I think I might need.

My question comes from trying to determine exactly which of these caps to order in regards to size.  The PCB's have real world dimensions that these components must fit.  Is the gap between the leads of a capacitor something that people take into consideration when picking out parts?  Or is simply bending the leads to fit the space what's normally done?

Sorry if this is common sense to most folks, but I'd like to make sure I order my stuff correctly and not have to wait on a reorder

Thanks!

[petemoore]

 Welcome, and mostly, yes.
  Parts ordering can be an optional nightmare, so many your dream seems much farther away.
  For caps...you want the voltage rating to be > the power potential applied to it, that means 16v for 9v effects is a good choice.
  Many of the films don't come in 16v, so look for 50v units.
  All that schtuff actually has most of the lead spacings and diagrams in the data sheets.
  Mouser has the filters, using them makes it easier to find parts you can use. punch in 16v [for electrolytics, which tend to be: big value = big size], whatever else you need in the filter boxes, soon the number of options gets narrowed down, I've gotten SMT devices and huge caps before though, the huge caps [High Voltage] I found uses for.
  I find it a bit easier to order right for stompboxes when visiting Smallbear Electronics.
 

[budjb]

Smallbear has a very nice selection of parts that are relevant to these projects, and I'll actually end up ordering most of my stuff there.  My problem with one of the project I want to do specifically has to do with box caps.  This is the GM Dr. Boogey I'm talking about.  I'm trying to get as close to spec as possible, and I've found most of the ones I need, but like I said I'm just worried about ordering them and making sure they actually fit on the PCB image provided.  Is this something I should be worried about?

[petemoore]

  If they fit...well hyea.
  But material type, film is fine, anything really is fine IME, as long as the V rating is at least big enough and the Uf rating is the same.
  Mouser has helpline, they can probably steer you in the right direction, I used them a couple weeks ago when ordering some filter caps for an amp, worked out great.