Why do people use box caps over greenies?

[chromesphere]

The terminology gets me everytime so i'll refer to them as "box" and "greenie" for simplicity sake...I actually used to use "greenies" as that was all i could get at my local.  But a number of years ago i discovered where everyone was getting the box type (online worked for me), i switched and everythings been fine since.

But i recently recieved some panasonic ECQ's from Rockhorst of this & "the other" forum.  Pretty sure they are the 'greenie' type?  They are probably even SMALLER then the box type, although at this size it problably doesnt really matter.

So where i am i going with this...Basically, do people use the box type instead of greenie, because the size of the package is ...usuually... gurranteed to be small, where as the mylar films are all over the map?  Because you know...greenies are much cheaper!

Just some thoughts..what you do you think?
Paul

[CodeMonk]

Box have consistent lead spacing.
Thats about the only advantage to them I see (Other than better tolerance options for box type maybe?).

[chromesphere]

Oh the memories came flooding back!  The lead spacing...thats right, it was a pita...

Still if you can find the right lead spacing for common values, (and the right size cap) would be worthwhile stocking up!  The are 3 or 4c each on tayda!

Paul

[rousejeremy]

I love the box type but the electronics stores around here don't always have them in the values I need. The lead spacing is perfect for PCBs and they look cool.

[chromesphere]

Im thinking more the cost then anything else...at 3 or 4 cents each, you can get 100 for $3 or $4!!  BUt yeah...just the problem of unpredictable lead spacing and component height i guess is the problem...10nf seems to be ok on both of those fronts though.
Paul

[Jdansti]

I think the more important question is, which one is tastier...

[chromesphere]

Nice mojo

They look like high value capacitors!?

Edit: Just realised i stuffed up the title.  Supposed to read "why DO people use box caps over greenies".  Confused?  me too.

[armdnrdy]

I like the box caps because when I'm done populating the board it looks like a little city....and I'm the Mayor!

I don't even care how the build sounds or if it works! I just like the looks of em! 

[Jdansti]

Although the lead spacing is consistent, you've still got to make sure your PCB spacing matches your cap spacing. I built a Solstice and used the box caps that I had. The problem was that Merlin had designed the PCB for caps with a smaller lead spacing than my box caps. I had to do some creative lead bending. Here's a comparison of his board to mine.

Merlin's:


Mine:

[Focalized]

I like the little city comparison. I always thought that.

[MartyMart]

Merlins little blue caps are all ceramic ... that keeps 'em very small.
I love that the only place you used one was at the bottom .... where there was "supposed" to be a much bigger cap !!

I have lots of box caps but they normally have quite short leads, Greenies or Panasonic ECQ's are just fine and have longer leads
which = more options for fitting.

Must say, those tiny ceramics are great for stompers that have a small enclosure.

MM

[Jdansti]

>I love that the only place you used one was at the bottom .... where there was "supposed" to be a much bigger cap !!

Right!  I just used what I had. That little guy really has his leads stretched out!  My box cap couldn't make the distance.

[Mark Hammer]

Many of the older circuits we try and clone used greenies, and often ceramic disc types, so there is an "authenticity" aspect.  But I doubt it makes much consistent sonic difference.  As others have noted, the box type have a number of pleasing qualities.  Not mentioned in the list accumulated so far is that the values aregenerally written on top.  I hate having to bend greenies and discs over to be able to try and read the values.

[EATyourGuitar]

the price of box caps kills me but I do it for the 6mm mounting height and small footprint. I design things to be manufactured without lead bending while using the least amount of board space possible. I use panasonic electrolytic caps that have a 6mm mounting height also. these box caps say 2.5mm wide on the datasheet but they all measure at 2.2mm or 2.3mm with most of them 2.2mm. this is true for all brands of box caps I have measured. if you ever need 1uf box, you can just bend it over to get within your 6mm height. and the footprint is still square. try that with a chicklet and you will see the difference. when I build synthesizers, ceramic is just not an option for things that should not drift.

[Paul Marossy]

It seems to me that some people think that they are "better" caps than the other types of caps. To me, they just cost more.

[duck_arse]

I've got 7.5 mm 100nF box caps I got cheap. they waste an extra hole on vero, but sometimes avoid fit problems with other parts. I also use big, fat 680nF box caps that sit around like slobs, and nothing fits next to them.

in the old days, it didn't matter what the board spacing was, the greencaps at hand were a different size. and thay are always too tall.

[Paul Marossy]

in the old days, it didn't matter what the board spacing was, the greencaps at hand were a different size. and thay are always too tall.

That is one advantage of box caps, the physical size. Sometimes that matters.

[darron]

I like the box caps because when I'm done populating the board it looks like a little city....and I'm the Mayor!

I don't even care how the build sounds or if it works! I just like the looks of em! 

...

 

[digi2t]

I've used both, but not really for any particular sonic value. It really has to do more with size and space for my application. Since I do everything on vero, the 3 hole spacing is prime box cap real estate, and even then I'll use a box cap when space is tight. I find that above a certain value, greenies start to get pretty big. When I'm drawing up a vero, it's always a consideration when I start compressing.

If it's tight, and I can arrange a 3 hole space, then it's a box cap. If I have room, and/or it's more or less that a 3 hole space, then it's a greenie.

Actually, I'm a bigger fan of metalized film (brownie) myself. 63 or 100 volt rating. Nice and small, look good, lead spacing seems to cover box cap territory, or smaller/larger spacing, and seem to sound better to my ears.



What can brown do for you? 

[Paul Marossy]

I like the "brownies" too.