Does anyone know where to get a RFI capacitor? That is the small electrical piece mounted next to the voltage regulator to reduce radio noise/feedback (radio frequency interference). The wire broke off of mine as they always seem to. The morons at the auto parts store keep trying to sell me a condensor to replace it. I tried a Ford dealer as well and was told he could not look anything that old up. I am going to try a better Ford dealer next week where they aren't as lazy, but if anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate it.
a points condensor and the rfi capacitor are the same thing. just cut the terminal off the condensor and splice it into the wire before the connector. it will work fine.
10 years or so ago; I'd have just said, "Go to Radio Shack". But my last trip into that shell of a half-vast decent electronics chain has taught me to know better - if you were to actually stumble upon a Radio Shack store that still sold electronics components, the salesdweebs therein probably wouldn't know they have the part you needed, let alone know how to help you out Since you're in Orange County; look up in the Yellow Pages for "Electronics Components- Retail" Go to any store you find and tell them you want a .0047uF (microFarad), 35 volt -you want one that high for voltage spikes- axial-lead eletrolytic capacitor. The part will be a little tubular "can" with a single wire sticking out of each end; and the outer plastic "wrapper" will indicate which wire is "-" (negative). That wire goes to ground, and the other wire will go to the hot charging terminal from the alternator to the regulator. Yeah, an ignition condensor will work ("-" is the little clip that screws down to the base of the distributer points plate, the single wire is the "other end"). Electronics geeks like me would go with the specific value electrolytic because that's the precise value that would best kill off any RF interference; and, well, we're geeks!
There are also a bunch of tube radio restoration supply places that sell capacitors of all ratings. Just google vintage radio capacitor or something like it and you will find what you are looking for. I have used Just Radios out of Toronto, and Antique Electronic Supply in the states. www.tubesandmore.com/
Doesn't even have to be a "vintage" piece. The component values I mentioned are still in use and manufactured today. Even in the era of 1mm square SMD components and camera phones smaller than a cheap wallet; capacitors that big are still used in computer power supplies. Any AC-to-DC power supply uses them to filter out AC ripple after the bridge rectifier. You could use a "vintage" radio part, but it's not gonna be "correct" for use in the car anyway. I'd just get a new one.
