Allen-Bradley Capacitors

Allen-Bradley, a brand of Rockwell Automation, has been the backbone of industrial automation in North America since 1903. Their motor drives, PLCs, and control systems are installed in hundreds of thousands of factories, plants, and facilities worldwide. When the capacitors inside this equipment fail, finding exact replacements is critical to minimizing downtime.

Why Allen-Bradley Capacitors Fail

Electrolytic capacitors are the most failure-prone component in Allen-Bradley VFDs and drives. The electrolyte inside aluminum electrolytic capacitors slowly evaporates over time, causing capacitance loss, increased ESR, and eventual failure. In a typical Allen-Bradley PowerFlex or 1336 drive, the DC bus capacitors experience constant charge-discharge cycling and heat stress, giving them a finite lifespan of 7-15 years depending on operating conditions.

Common failure symptoms include:

Allen-Bradley Drive Capacitor Replacements

Specap stocks and sources capacitors for the most common Allen-Bradley drive platforms:

PowerFlex Series (520, 525, 527, 700, 700H, 700S, 753, 755): DC bus electrolytic capacitors, snubber film capacitors, and control board capacitors. We carry exact replacements and cross-referenced equivalents for all PowerFlex models.

1336 Series (1336 PLUS, 1336 PLUS II, 1336 IMPACT, 1336 Force): These legacy drives are widely installed but many original capacitors are now obsolete. We maintain stock of replacement DC bus capacitors and can cross-reference to modern equivalents that match the original specifications.

1305/1336/1397 Legacy Drives: Older Allen-Bradley drives that are still in active service require obsolete capacitor types. Our sourcing network includes NOS (New Old Stock) inventory and we provide engineering cross-reference when originals are unavailable.

160 SSC and SMC Series: Soft starters and smart motor controllers with electrolytic capacitors that degrade over time.

PLC and Control System Capacitors

Allen-Bradley PLCs and controllers also contain capacitors that can fail:

PLC-5 Systems: Power supply modules contain aluminum electrolytic capacitors that degrade after 15-20 years of continuous operation.

SLC 500: Compact controller power supplies with capacitors that are now difficult to source through standard channels.

ControlLogix and CompactLogix: Modern controllers with capacitors in power supply and I/O modules.

Our Allen-Bradley Capacitor Sourcing Process

1. **Send us the part number** — Allen-Bradley catalog number, drive model, or capacitor part number from the failed component

2. **We cross-reference** — Our engineers identify the exact capacitor specifications (capacitance, voltage, ESR, ripple current, physical dimensions, terminal type)

3. **We source or match** — We check our warehouse inventory first, then our global network. If the exact part is obsolete, we recommend a tested equivalent

4. **Same-day shipping** — In-stock items ship the same day when ordered before 2pm EST

Why Choose Specap for Allen-Bradley Capacitors

With over 40 years in the capacitor distribution industry, Specap has the expertise and sourcing network to find Allen-Bradley capacitor replacements that other suppliers cannot. We understand that a failed drive capacitor means production downtime costing thousands of dollars per hour. Our goal is to get you the right part, fast.

We stock capacitors from manufacturers commonly used in Allen-Bradley equipment including Cornell Dubilier, Nichicon, Nippon Chemi-Con, KEMET, and Illinois Capacitor — ensuring we can provide both original and cross-referenced replacement options.