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"new" Panasonic FM vs FC caps??

post #1 of 18
7/26/04 at 1:48pm
Thread Starter 
Reading old threads I find many recommendations for Panasonic FC capacitors. Now going through the digikey catalog I find mention of "new" Pana FM caps. Here's the page http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T042/0778.pdf They say, "Low impedance: 40-70% lower than FC series - High Ripple Current: 50% higher than FC series"

Anyone know anything about these? Are they worth trying, do you think?
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post #2 of 18
7/26/04 at 1:58pm
forgot to add how many % higher price
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post #3 of 18
7/26/04 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
The really suspicious part is that the FMs are less expensive than the FC, at least in the sizes I looked at.

FC catalog page: http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T042/0776.pdf
FM: http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T042/0778.pdf
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post #4 of 18
7/26/04 at 2:46pm
I think it's definitely worth trying, they simply can't be worse then FCs looking at their specs, you might just discovered a successor to FCs..
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post #5 of 18
7/26/04 at 3:16pm
Some differences I see in the datasheets:

- FM doesn't go to as low a temperature (-40C vs -55C)
- FC has some some lower values than FM (1uF to 18uF)
- FC has some higher values than FM (8200uF to 15000uF)
- FM has far fewer values in each voltage range
- FM caps are almost always available in only one case size; FC frequently offers 2 or 3 sizes for each value/tolerance type.

The latter two are the ones most likely to cause problems, in my estimation. If you need a 120uF cap, or you need to fit a 330uF/35V cap into an 8mm diameter space, you're stuck with FC.
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post #6 of 18
7/26/04 at 3:20pm
I was wondering something similar regarding the Nichicon UHE vs. UPW. The UPW's cost more... but according to the specs, the UHE have a higher life rating and lower impedence. They are cheaper, too... I have some UHE's, and they seem to work very well. Any thoughts?
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post #7 of 18
7/26/04 at 3:25pm
Panasonic FM caps pdf

Panasonic FC caps pdf
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post #8 of 18
7/26/04 at 4:07pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I ordered some FMs for a cmoy and they should be here Wednesday, but all I have to compare to in another cmoy is Nichicon UHEs.
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post #9 of 18
8/30/04 at 7:43pm
Thread Starter 
I've used these Pana FMs is a few amps now, I replaced some 470uf UPW and UHE with 680uf FMs in a cmoy and A47 and used the FMs in my Frankenstein cmoys. There's not much I can say about sound quality because I didn't have any real apples to apples comparison situation, but I certainly didn't run into anything to complain about.

Just wondering if anyone else has tried FMs and have any comments or observations -- before I go and order a batch for a Pimeta and a Mint.
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post #10 of 18
8/30/04 at 9:59pm
Hi earwax, Can you post a pic of them? I'm such a slut to electronic component visuals.
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post #11 of 18
8/30/04 at 10:20pm
Thread Starter 
FM, in black w/ gold and red markings, should look stylish in any amp.
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post #12 of 18
8/30/04 at 11:20pm
Thanks..I love things with gold accents. Eww to that cap on top of it.
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post #13 of 18
8/31/04 at 7:46pm
I've hear that Nichicons and some other capacitors made in Japan have better high frequency ESR characteristics than the US made Panasonics, but does anyone have any hard information on this? While quite a bit less sexy looking, now that D-K is stocking 'em, I'm interested in those Nichicons.
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post #14 of 18
8/31/04 at 9:49pm
Panasonic is a Japanese company. I've seen nothing that says their caps aren't made in Japan.
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post #15 of 18
8/31/04 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangent
Panasonic is a Japanese company. I've seen nothing that says their caps aren't made in Japan.
And not that where it's made should dictate the impedance to deviate from the specified values @ 100kHz in the datasheets...
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