Capacitor Outside Sheathing

[Logistics]

So last night I decided to see what was under the outside sheathing of a capacitor; wow, it's bare metal underneath.

Is there any benefit, such as cooling, to removing the sheathing and leaving it bare metal, such as removing the sheathing from the caps in a PSU for enhanced cooling?

[willawake]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

is for cosmetic reasons

Is there any benefit, such as cooling, to removing the sheathing

**cough**

[Krankshaft]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

Besides if you removed the sheathing if you ever needed to replace it you would have no idea what its value or working voltage was.

[Logistics]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

It would be very difficult to remove the sheathing while it was soldered down. Likely, this would be in a scenario wherein I replaced them so I know what they are. But if there's no cooling benefit, forget it. I just figured that the cooler they were, the closer to spec they would be.

[willawake]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

best to concentrate on case cooling instead

[Logistics]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

Since willawake is such a huge help in these dillemae of mine, I am motivated to remove the outer sheathing from all my capacitors, henceforth, for the purpose of sanding and polishing their sweet, aluminum outsides to a beautiful mirrory goodness. And we all know that polished surfaces reflect heat so I should defenitely... oh wait, I said this wasn't for cooling... it isn't, IT ISN'T!

[Tom41]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

Like others said, it's purely cosmetic and a convenient place to put the brand name, capacitance/voltage rating, and negative indicator band.

Some caps DON'T have an outer sheath and are just metal cans. These usually have the information printed on the top, over the vent.

[starfury1]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

So I guess cause the layer is plastic
it may have a little insulation type properties as opposed to a bear Al can
but as the saying goes it would be a "pee in the ocean" from a heat/cooling perspective
A fan would be a lot less work and achieve more me thinks

While looking into caps awhile back I did find some info on the thermal transfer of cap design (area etc of can)...stuffed if I know were the link is now thought.

Save the spit and polish use a fan
for that matter
"Save the Cheerleader Save the world"

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Capacitor Outside Sheathing

IIRC, Rifa has a series of large can caps that has a hole down the center to improve cooling.