300mf 250 Volt
 

Okay, so I may do my first "real" TV repair. My Zenith System 3 needs a new filter capacitor.

I'm told to get a 300mf 250 Volt. Where is the best (least expensive and good quality) place to get this?

This Nichicon from Mouser should do the job just fine.
It's slightly higher capacitance but that won't hurt a thing.

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...HEG8EeJYCrg%3d

Eric, I also found this one on ebay. A two pack. But without taking the original one out (which is rather big), could this be the same thing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-330UF-3...-/270981329727

In all probability you won't find a capacitor that exactly matches the appearance of your original capacitor. As technology advances, capacitors keep getting smaller in physical size for a given value, so your new replacement cap will probably be smaller, but the electrically the same inside. Many people, who are into "authentic" appearance of vintage gear have figured out ways to remove the "innards" from old caps and stuff a new cap inside the old shell, thus preserving the appearance of the chassis, but for a later model TV I don't think I would do this. All you need be concerned with here, in regards suitability for your TV, is the capacitance and voltage rating. A slightly higher capacitance (on an electrolytic) is generally considered OK. A higher voltage rating is OK too.

Also, in switch mode power supplies special extra LOW ESR type caps (tantalum IIRC) are needed for the circuit to function properly.

I am far from a purist about this stuff. Just want my Zenith to work right. It is amazing to me that in 30 years the cap has gotten so much smaller. I've heard that I need to get two of these new caps to take the place of the old one. This is starting to get complicated for a newbie like me. Yikes!!

There's no need to use two capacitors. The one Eric linked to will work fine. I don't recognize the brand of those on ebay (KC ?) so I'd avoid them.

Easy there mate, just a dab(at a time)'ll do ya.

Prior to this, wiring my trainlayout was a big (electrical) deal for me! My eyes are spinning.

Its a 2 section cap for a Zenith 9-160

73 Zeno:smoke:

If it is a two section cap then you do need two single section caps to replace it with. Though unless both sections of the can have the same rating you will need tow caps of different rating that match the ratings of the sections of the original caps.