[sdiy] Tantalum alternatives for re-capping?

[Michael E Caloroso]

If the caps are not on the power rails, I don't replace them.

It's the power rails that are a hazard, because the maximum voltage rating
of those caps degrades with age, and the first ones to go are those on
power rails.

You should be able to source a modern electrolytic substitute, because
technology has advanced in that the farad/cubic-cm density has improved.  I
have been able to substitute electrolytic with the same lead pitch of the
original tantalum.

MC

On Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 2:46 PM Colin Hinz via Synth-diy <
synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Slightly off-topic, but I am re-capping an old (circa 1977) MXR Digital
> Delay and am wondering about the numerous small tantalum capacitors that
> are in this unit. Should I leave them be? Replace them with new solid
> tantalum parts? Replace them with some other technology?
>
> Unfortunately the replacements need to be through-hole parts, which
> rules out some of the whizz-bang technologies touted as tantalum
> replacements, such as niobium oxide.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> - Colin
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