What we source
Capacitors
Capacitors are cheap until a qualified value goes obsolete or a failure-rate level is sold out. We find the exact specified part, including established-reliability and space-level versions, in small lots.
Where this comes up
Capacitor shortages come in waves, and established-reliability and space-level parts are hit hardest because fewer lines make them. A board waiting on two capacitors is a common lab problem. We search for the exact military part number and failure-rate level first, then for the matching manufacturer part where your drawing allows it.
What we find
- Ceramic chip and leaded capacitors
- Solid tantalum chip and leaded capacitors
- Metallized film capacitors
- Feedthrough and EMI-suppression capacitors
Specifications buyers ask for
- MIL-PRF-55681
- ceramic chip capacitors, established reliability
- MIL-PRF-123
- high-reliability ceramic capacitors for space
- MIL-PRF-39014
- leaded ceramic capacitors, established reliability
- MIL-PRF-55365
- tantalum chip capacitors, with Weibull failure-rate grading
- MIL-PRF-39003
- leaded solid tantalum capacitors
- MIL-PRF-83421
- metallized film capacitors in sealed cases
- MIL-PRF-28861
- filters and capacitors for EMI suppression
What to put in your RFQ
- The full military or manufacturer part number, including the failure-rate letter
- Capacitance, tolerance, voltage, dielectric and case size if there is no part number
- Termination finish: tin-lead or pure tin
- Quantity and date-code limits
Finish and failure rate are part of the spec
Many aerospace programs prohibit pure tin terminations because of tin whiskers, and a part with the same value but a lower failure-rate level is not a substitute. Your quote states the exact part number that ships; we do not substitute without your written approval.
How we source
- Authorized stock first. We buy from authorized distributors wherever they hold stock.
- Manufacturer and OEM excess, with purchase paperwork back to an authorized source.
- Qualified independent sources only after they pass our questionnaire. Their parts are tested at an independent lab before they ship, unless you tell us in writing not to.
What ships with your order
- Blue Horizon certificate of conformance, signed
- Manufacturer and supplier paperwork back to the source
- Manufacturer lot and date codes, plus our internal lot code
- The test report, when parts were tested
One line per part is fine. We screen every customer and classify every part before quoting.