Scholastic Electronics Lab with Fiber Optics

[Newbie2]

I have a Scholastic Electronics Lab with Fiber Optics kit that I purchased a while ago. The capacitors included in the kit didn't go bad, but were of unheard of generic brands.


Two "yongda" 47uf 16V capacitors along with one "Chang" 0.47uf 50V capacitor.

Pictures of the kit:



I have "recapped" this kit with:
Receiver:
1 "yongda" 47uf 16V capacitor -> 1 Panasonic FC series 47uf 50V capacitor
1 "Chang" 0.47uf 50V capacitor -> 1 Panasonic FC series 2.2uf 50V capacitor

Transmitter:
1 "yongda" 47uf 16V capacitor -> 1 Panasonic FC series 47uf 50V capacitor




The kit works fine with the new capacitors I installed.

I know this kit is intended for children, but it's a shame that Scholastic included cheap capacitors with it. Are those cheap capacitors even lead-free/RoHS compliant?

[ratdude747]

Re: Scholastic Electronics Lab with Fiber Optics

look, its meant to be cheap so kids have to beg ma and pa for a new one each time the catalog come in. look at the card board bases. see what i mean? no concern for quality?

btw, why did you buy it in the first place?

[momaka]

Re: Scholastic Electronics Lab with Fiber Optics

Well it's not like the capacitors will be over-stressed in that kit, hence why the manufacturer didn't bother to put higher-end caps. If general purpose caps work, then that's what the manufacturer will use. I bet that even with these cheap chinese caps, the kit will last pretty long.

[Newbie2]

Re: Scholastic Electronics Lab with Fiber Optics

Well it's not like the capacitors will be over-stressed in that kit, hence why the manufacturer didn't bother to put higher-end caps. If general purpose caps work, then that's what the manufacturer will use. I bet that even with these cheap chinese caps, the kit will last pretty long.

I'd understand that cheap capacitors would be good enough for this kit, high quality low ESR capacitors are overkill for it but I "recapped" it for fun and to see if they will also work well in the kit.