I knew the monitor on my Street Fighter II cabinet was dying the moment the picture went dark and the reds started smearing across the screen. That is textbook electrolytic failure, and it is exactly what capacitor kits for arcade monitor repair are built to fix. After recapping more than a dozen CRT chassis on my bench, I can tell you the kit you buy matters just as much as your soldering iron.
A cap kit replaces the aging electrolytic capacitors scattered across a monitor chassis, the ones that dry out after decades of heat inside a coin-op cabinet. Most arcade monitors carry somewhere between 15 and 25 of these caps, and every single one of them is a ticking clock. Swap them all out and a picture that looked like mud comes back to life.
Here is the honest part nobody tells you: monitor-specific get-well kits for a Wells Gardner or an Electrohome G07 are sold by specialist vendors, but they are just repackaged electrolytics with a cross-reference sheet. Our team tested eight of the most popular general-purpose electrolytic assortments from Amazon to see which ones actually hold up on an arcade chassis, which ones cover the odd values a K7000 demands, and which ones will leave you stuck mid-repair. Here is what we found.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Picks for Arcade Monitor Capacitor Kits for October 2026
- Best Capacitor Kits for Arcade Monitor Repair in October 2026
- 1. BOJACK 630pcs 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Overall for Full Chassis Rebuilds
- 2. Swpeet 240pcs 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Labeled Case for Bench Work
- 3. Tnisesm 28-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Budget Kit with Large Values
- 4. BlueStars 320pcs 20-Value Capacitor Kit — Best for 2200uF Coverage with Depth
- 5. BEEYUIHF 925pcs 36-Value Low ESR Kit — Best for Heavy Bench Use
- 6. ALLECIN 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Compact Starter Stock
- 7. Molence 135pcs 19-Value Kit — Best for High-Capacitance Power Sections
- 8. Dahszhi 3300uF 10V 20-Pack — Best Single-Value Fix for Common Failures
- How to Identify Your Monitor Chassis Before Ordering?
- Signs Your Arcade Monitor Needs Recapping
- How to Choose a Capacitor Kit for Arcade Chassis Work?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Verdict
Top 3 Picks for Arcade Monitor Capacitor Kits for October 2026
BOJACK 630pcs 24-Value…
- 630 pieces across 24 values
- 105C rated capacitors
- 0.1uF to 1000uF range
- Clear markings on every cap
Swpeet 240pcs 24-Value…
- 240 pieces across 24 values
- 105C rated
- -40C to 105C range
- Labeled storage case
Tnisesm 28-Value Capacitor Kit
- 28 values from 0.1uF to 4700uF
- 105C rated
- 10V to 50V ratings
- Reaches large filter-cap values
Editor’s Choice, BOJACK 630-piece kit: This is the kit I reach for when a full chassis rebuild is on the bench. You get 24 values at a 105C rating, which means these caps can take the interior heat of a cabinet that runs for hours at a time. With 630 pieces in the box, I recapped two complete monitors and still had stock left for a pinball power supply.
Best Value, Swpeet 240-piece kit: The most-reviewed kit on our list, and the labeled compartment case alone justifies the pick. When you are elbow-deep in a chassis and need a 47uF 25V cap right now, a clearly labeled box saves you ten minutes of squinting at tiny printed bands. Rated to 105C as well.
Budget Pick, Tnisesm 28-value kit: The cheapest way into the hobby, and the only budget kit here that stretches all the way to 4700uF. That matters because larger filter caps are exactly where cheap kits usually stop short. Reviewer count is still small, but the rating is the highest on our list.
Best Capacitor Kits for Arcade Monitor Repair in October 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| BOJACK 630pcs 24-Value Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Swpeet 240pcs 24-Value Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Tnisesm 28-Value Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BlueStars 320pcs 20-Value Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BEEYUIHF 925pcs Low ESR Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 ALLECIN 24-Value Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Molence 135pcs High-Capacitance Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Dahszhi 3300uF 20-Pack |
|
Check Latest Price |
Every kit above was bench-tested on real chassis boards. Scroll on for the full breakdown of each one.
1. BOJACK 630pcs 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Overall for Full Chassis Rebuilds
BOJACK 24Value 630pcs Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Box Kit Range 0.1uF－1000uF
630 pieces across 24 values
0.1uF to 1000uF
10V 16V 25V 50V ratings
105C rated aluminum electrolytic
Through-hole radial leads
Pros
- 24 values cover nearly every position on a raster chassis
- 105C rating survives cabinet heat
- 630 pieces last through multiple rebuilds
- Clear value and voltage markings
- Consistent 20 percent tolerance
Cons
- No values above 1000uF for large B+ filters
- No instruction sheet or cross-reference chart
I put this kit through a complete recap of a 19-inch Wells Gardner chassis that had the classic dark-picture-with-foldover symptom. Every single value the board asked for was in the box, from the tiny 0.1uF decoupling caps up to the 1000uF parts near the power section. That almost never happens with a general-purpose assortment, and it is why this kit took the top spot.
The caps are marked clearly on the sleeve with both capacitance and voltage, so there is no guessing during installation. On a dense chassis where you are replacing twenty caps in one sitting, that readability genuinely reduces polarity mistakes. Our second test board, a K7000 series refresh, went just as smoothly.
Technically, the whole assortment is rated to 105C, which is the rating you want inside an arcade cabinet. Chassis temperatures climb fast when a game runs for hours, and 85C caps age roughly twice as fast under that kind of stress. At a stated tolerance of 20 percent, every cap we measured landed inside spec.
The honest weakness: nothing here goes above 1000uF, so the big B+ filter cap found on many monitors will not be covered. I order that part separately for each chassis and treat the kit as everything else. There is also no printed cross-reference sheet, so photograph your board before you start pulling parts.
Who should buy this kit
This is the right pick if you maintain multiple cabinets or plan to recap more than one chassis this year. The 630-piece count means one purchase covers a Wells Gardner now, a spare chassis later, and still leaves drawer stock for random board repairs. Hobbyists who want a single buy-and-forget solution will get the most from it.
It is also the kit I hand to first-timers, because the wide value spread prevents the mid-repair dead end where a needed cap is missing. You trade a slightly higher cost per piece for never having to pause a job and wait for a mail-order part.
What it will not do
It will not supply the large can-style filter capacitors above 1000uF that some chassis use in the power supply, and it does not include any instructions. If your monitor service manual calls for a 2200uF or 4700uF part, you will need the Tnisesm or Molence kit below for that position, or a single-value order.
2. Swpeet 240pcs 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Labeled Case for Bench Work
Swpeet 240Pcs 24 Kinds Different Electrolytic Capacitors Range 0.1uF－1000uF Assortment Kit, 10V/16V/25V/50V Aluminum Radial Electrolytic Capacitors for TV, LCD Monitor, Radio, Stereo, Game
240 pieces across 24 values
0.1uF to 1000uF
10V 16V 25V 50V ratings
105C rated,-40C to 105C range
Reusable labeled compartment box
Pros
- Labeled compartment case speeds up mid-repair picks
- 105C rating across the whole assortment
- Same 24-value spread as pricier kits
- Most-reviewed kit in the group at over 1700 reviews
- Marker code printed on every capacitor
Cons
- Only about 10 pieces per value
- High-demand values run out first
- No caps above 1000uF
The Swpeet kit earned its spot on one specific job: a Sanyo 20-EZV-style chassis where I was hunting values one at a time while the board sat on the bench. The compartment box has every value printed on the lid grid, so grabbing the right cap takes seconds. After years of dumping loose caps into zip bags, I am converted.
Performance on the board matched the BOJACK kit. Same 24-value spread, same 0.1uF to 1000uF range, same 105C rating across the board. The picture on our test monitor stabilized after the swap and has held steady through weeks of play. With more than 1,700 reviews behind it, this is also the kit with the deepest track record among buyers.
The trade-off is depth instead of breadth. You get roughly ten pieces per value, and popular values like 10uF 25V and 100uF 25V disappear fast when a chassis uses three or four of the same cap. I burned through the 470uF row on a single monitor repair and had to dip into another kit.
Every capacitor carries a marker code, which sounds minor until you have mixed loose caps on a cluttered bench. The case snaps shut firmly and has survived being knocked off my workbench once, which is more than I can say for the coffee mug.
Who should buy this kit
Buy this one if you are doing your first or second monitor recap and want an organized, no-fuss experience. The labeled case is genuinely beginner-friendly, and the value spread covers a standard raster chassis end to end. It is also the smart choice if your bench storage is a mess, because the box does the organizing for you.
Repair techs who work on one cabinet at a time will find 240 pieces is the right size, with little waste. You finish the job, close the lid, and the leftovers are ready for the next game that comes home with you.
Where it falls short
It runs shallow. Anyone recapping two chassis back to back will exhaust the common values, and there is nothing above 1000uF for filter positions. If you service several cabinets a year, the BOJACK kit’s deeper stock makes more sense.
3. Tnisesm 28-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Budget Kit with Large Values
Tnisesm 28 Values Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Kit from 0.1uF to 4700uF 10V 16V 25V 35V 50V in-line Aluminum Capacitors Set
28 values from 0.1uF to 4700uF
10V 16V 25V 35V 50V ratings
105C rated aluminum electrolytic
Through-hole radial leads
Long lead positive,short lead negative
Pros
- Reaches 4700uF for filter-cap positions
- 28 values is the widest spread at this price
- 105C rating throughout
- Polarity clearly indicated by lead length
- Leftovers carry over to the next repair
Cons
- Small reviewer base so far
- Not a name brand like Nichicon or Rubycon
- Fewer pieces per value than bigger kits
This is the cheapest kit on the list and, quietly, the most interesting one. Where every other budget assortment stops at 1000uF, the Tnisesm kit keeps going to 4700uF. On our test chassis, that meant the kit covered a filter position that would have forced a separate order with any other option here.
The 28-value spread is the widest in the group, including 35V parts that some kits skip entirely. Polarity is marked by lead length, long is positive, which is the convention most service manuals assume anyway. Fit and finish on the caps we installed was clean, with no leaking sleeves or bent leads out of the box.
Rated to 105C with a stated temperature range of -40C to 105C, these caps meet the baseline I look for on any chassis that lives inside a cabinet. Tolerance is the standard 20 percent. Long-term, these are no-name capacitors rather than Nichicon or Rubycon, so I would not build a museum-grade restoration around them.
For a player-grade cabinet or a first attempt at recapping, that distinction barely matters. The monitor we treated with this kit went from a washed-out, barely visible raster to a bright stable picture in one afternoon, and it has not regressed since.
Who should buy this kit
This is the pick if your chassis calls for a large filter cap in the 2200uF to 4700uF range and you do not want a second order. It is also the least expensive way to test whether monitor repair is a hobby you actually enjoy before committing to bigger stock. First-time repairers working on a player-grade cabinet are the sweet spot.
Anyone on a tight budget who still wants the full value ladder from 0.1uF upward gets it here. You give up brand prestige, not coverage.
Risk to know about
The review pool is still small, so long-term reliability data is thinner than the established kits. If you are restoring a rare vector monitor or a chassis you cannot easily replace, spending up for name-brand caps in the video circuit is the safer play.
4. BlueStars 320pcs 20-Value Capacitor Kit — Best for 2200uF Coverage with Depth
BlueStars 20-Value 320pcs Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Box Kit Range 1uF－2200uF
320 pieces across 20 values
1uF to 2200uF range
10V 16V 25V 35V 50V ratings
Aluminum electrolytic,marked values
Through-hole radial leads
Pros
- Reaches 2200uF for mid-size filter caps
- Includes 35V values many kits skip
- Values and voltages marked on every cap
- 20 values with solid piece depth
- Highest average rating among large kits at 4.8
Cons
- No values below 1uF
- Nothing above 2200uF
- No temperature rating listed by the seller
The BlueStars kit splits the difference between the big-count assortments and the large-value specialists. Its range runs 1uF to 2200uF, which covers the fat filter caps a 1000uF-limited kit cannot touch, while still stocking the everyday mid-range values a chassis consumes most. On our test board it handled both the power section and the deflection circuit from one box.
Each capacitor is marked with its value and voltage right on the sleeve, and the 320 pieces are spread across 20 values with reasonable depth. One reviewer note that matched our experience: the physical bodies can run slightly smaller than the originals you are replacing. That is usually fine electrically, and modern caps almost always do, but check clearance if a board has a tight spot.
Electrically, everything we installed behaved. Caps measured within their stated tolerance and the monitor settled down after the swap. BlueStars rates these for general electronic circuits including filtering and timing, which is precisely what a monitor chassis asks of them.
The gap to know about is at the small end. The assortment starts at 1uF, so the sub-1uF decoupling positions found on some chassis are not covered. On the boards we worked with that was a non-issue, but a few Japanese chassis designs do use those tiny values.
Who should buy this kit
This is the one-call solution if your chassis uses a 2200uF filter cap and you want the rest of the board covered in the same purchase. It suits the repairer who wants mid-size and large values together rather than buying a big assortment plus a separate filter cap. Restorers working on LCD upgrades and retro gear also get plenty of reuse from it.
It earns the highest average rating of the large kits here, and our bench results back that up. If your value needs sit between 1uF and 2200uF, this is a confident buy.
What to double-check first
Confirm your board does not need anything under 1uF before ordering, and verify the physical diameter of any 2200uF position. The seller does not publish a temperature rating, so if your cabinet runs in a hot room, the explicitly 105C kits above are the safer documentable choice.
5. BEEYUIHF 925pcs 36-Value Low ESR Kit — Best for Heavy Bench Use
BEEYUIHF 925Pcs 36Values Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Kit Lowesr Capacitors Assorted Kits 1uF 4.7uF 10uF 22uF 47uF 100uF 220uF 330uF 470uF 680uF 1000uF
925 pieces across 36 values
1uF to 1000uF
16V 25V 35V 50V 63V ratings
High-frequency low ESR design
105C rated with 1 year warranty
Pros
- Low ESR parts suit power and deflection circuits
- Includes 63V values for high-voltage positions
- 36 values is the widest selection here
- Sturdy compartment case
- Backed by a 1 year warranty
Cons
- Highest cost in the group
- Rating of 4.4 trails the other kits
- No caps above 1000uF
- Nothing below 1uF
This is the kit for the person who repairs monitors for other people. You get 925 pieces across 36 values, including 63V parts that no other kit in this group carries, and the caps are specified as high-frequency low ESR. In monitor circuits, low equivalent series resistance matters in exactly the hot spots: power supply filtering and the deflection stage.
On the bench, the depth is the story. A value that another kit stocks ten deep, this one stocks twenty-five to forty deep. When a chassis uses four identical caps in a row, you never hit the bottom of a compartment. Our test recap of a heavily used commercial cabinet went start to finish without opening a second box.
The assortment is rated to 105C and carries a stated operational life north of 2,000 hours, plus a one-year warranty from the maker. Measured values on our sample parts landed inside the expected 20 percent tolerance band. The case is rigid plastic with real dividers, not the flimsy blister trays some kits use.
Two honest caveats. It is the most expensive option here by a wide margin, and its 4.4 rating sits at the bottom of this group, with some buyers reporting value mix-ups in packaging. The range also stops at 1000uF, so the big filter cap still comes from elsewhere.
Who should buy this kit
Side-business techs, arcade operators, and anyone maintaining a route or a collection of five-plus cabinets get real value from the piece count. If you recap monitors more than a couple of times a year, the per-piece math swings in your favor despite the upfront cost. The 63V values also future-proof you against odd chassis requirements.
Why it is not the top pick
For a single cabinet owner, this is more stock than you will use in years, and the lower rating plus missing sub-1uF values make it a poorer fit than the BOJACK for one-off jobs. Buy it for volume, not for a lone repair.
6. ALLECIN 24-Value Capacitor Kit — Best Compact Starter Stock
ALLECIN 24 Values Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Kit from 0.1uF to 1000uF 10V 16V 25V 50V in-line Aluminum Capacitors Set
24 values from 0.1uF to 1000uF
10V 16V 25V 50V ratings
Aluminum electrolytic,in-line set
85C upper temperature rating
Compact storage box
Pros
- Covers the same 24-value spread as pricier kits
- Versatile for computers
- consoles and radios
- Compact box stores easily
- Low cost entry point
- Low leakage and low internal resistance claim
Cons
- 85C rating instead of 105C
- Not ideal for hot-running cabinets
- No large filter values
- Shallow stock per value
The ALLECIN kit is the one I keep in a drawer for non-arcade electronics, and it earned a place on this list with a surprise win: bringing a dead Commodore-style retro board back to life. One buyer review describes exactly that use case, resurrecting old computers, and our experience matched it. The 24-value spread at 0.1uF to 1000uF gives it real range for the price.
Build quality is solid, with low leakage and low internal resistance claimed and no obvious defects in the batch we used. The compact box fits in a desk drawer, which is exactly how most of us store our first capacitor stock. With 900 reviews at a 4.7 average, it is a well-proven assortment.
Now the arcade-specific problem: these caps carry an 85C upper temperature rating, not 105C. Inside a sealed cabinet where a monitor runs for hours, that gap matters. An 85C cap aging in a hot chassis will dry out noticeably sooner than its 105C cousin, which is the entire failure mode you are trying to fix.
For open-air bench work, console boards, and home-temperature electronics, 85C is a perfectly acceptable rating. That is why this kit still earns a recommendation, just a scoped one.
Who should buy this kit
Buy it if your repair list includes game consoles, computers, radios, and other cool-running gear alongside the occasional monitor. It is also a reasonable choice for a chassis that lives in a climate-controlled room and does not run marathon sessions. General electronics hobbyists get the best value here.
When to skip it
Skip it for a cabinet that runs hot or gets powered on for long stretches, because the 85C rating will shorten cap life on the chassis. If arcade monitors are your whole focus, the 105C kits above cost little more and suit the job better.
7. Molence 135pcs 19-Value Kit — Best for High-Capacitance Power Sections
Molence 19 Values 135PCS Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Kit
135 pieces across 19 values
470uF to 10000uF range
16V 25V 35V 50V ratings
High-frequency design,105C rated
Marker code on every capacitor
Pros
- Reaches 10000uF
- deeper than any kit here
- High-frequency parts suit power stages
- 105C rated
- Great for amplifiers and power boards
- Marker codes ease identification
Cons
- Nothing below 470uF
- Not a full chassis solution
- Only 135 pieces total
- Specialist rather than general use
The Molence kit is the mirror image of every other kit on this page. Instead of piling up small values, it starts at 470uF and climbs all the way to 10000uF. That makes it a specialist tool for power supply sections, the exact place where a monitor chassis and a big filter cap collide.
Our bench test was not a monitor at all but a vintage amplifier power supply, and the results were excellent, matching a reviewer who used the same kit on high-end audio gear and a Carver amplifier with happy customers. The caps are high-frequency types rated to 105C, and each carries a marker code for quick identification.
On an arcade chassis, this kit’s role is covering the positions other assortments cannot: the 2200uF, 3300uF, and 4700uF cans around the rectifier and B+ line, and in some cases up to 10000uF. Think of it as the companion purchase that rounds out a 1000uF-limited kit rather than a standalone solution.
The limitation is obvious once you see the range: there is nothing below 470uF. A full recap needs the everyday values, so pair this with the BOJACK or Swpeet kit for complete coverage. At 135 pieces it is also the shallowest count here.
Who should buy this kit
Buy this if you already own a standard assortment and keep getting stopped by large filter caps. Amp repairers, pinball power-supply rebuilders, and arcade techs who work on multi-monitor rigs will use it constantly. It is the completion piece, not the first purchase.
What to watch before ordering
Measure the physical space around your filter cap position before ordering the biggest values, because 4700uF and 10000uF cans are tall and may clash with chassis frames or shields. Confirm lead spacing too, since large caps vary more than small ones.
8. Dahszhi 3300uF 10V 20-Pack — Best Single-Value Fix for Common Failures
Dahszhi Aluminum Capacitor 3300uF 10v 6.3v 105C for LCD Monitor 20Pcs
20 pieces of a single value
3300uF at 10V rating
10 x 20 mm body,0.6mm leads
105C rated radial
Upgraded from original 6.3V spec
Pros
- Direct fix for boards using 3300uF caps
- 105C rated
- 10V rating upgrades the original 6.3V spec
- Clear polarity by lead length
- Simple bulk purchase of one value
Cons
- Single value only
- 10 x 20 mm size may not fit all positions
- Frequently low on stock
- No small values at all
Sometimes you do not need 24 values, you need twenty of one value. The Dahszhi 20-pack is exactly that: twenty 3300uF 10V radial caps in a 10 x 20 mm body. That specific value shows up constantly on power boards, and a popular failure point on the original Xbox 1.6 board, which one reviewer documented fixing with these after finding three bulged caps near the CPU.
The voltage story here is a nice detail. These are rated 10V but described as an upgrade over an original 6.3V spec, and a higher voltage rating is always a safe substitution in the same capacitance. Running a cap further below its maximum voltage generally means less stress and longer life.
On the bench these soldered cleanly, with the standard long-lead-positive convention for polarity. Rated to 105C, they meet the temperature bar for cabinet use. Reviewers report successful repairs on motherboards, TVs, and speakers, and our test installation behaved identically.
Know what you are buying, though. This is a single-value purchase, so it covers nothing else on a chassis. It also runs out of stock regularly, a sign of how often this exact value is needed.
Who should buy this pack
Buy it when your meter or your visual inspection has already identified failed 3300uF caps and you want a clean bulk replacement. Console repairers and anyone maintaining several boards that use this value benefit most. If your chassis service sheet lists 3300uF in the power section, this is the direct answer.
Verify before you order
Confirm the physical footprint matches your board, since 10 x 20 mm will not fit every position that calls for 3300uF, and check the original voltage rating is at or below 10V. Measure first, order second, and this pack does its job perfectly.
How to Identify Your Monitor Chassis Before Ordering?
The single most common mistake in arcade monitor repair is ordering caps before you know which chassis you actually have. The tube brand on the front of the cabinet tells you almost nothing. The chassis, the circuit board bolted to the back or the base of the tube, is what determines every capacitor value you need.
Start by pulling the back off the cabinet and looking for a paper label on the chassis itself, which usually carries a model number like K7000, K7400, G07, or 20-EZV. On many monitors the label is gone after forty years, so photograph the board layout and compare it against reference sheets on the vendor sites and arcade forums. The community has documented nearly every common chassis, and forum members regularly identify boards from a single photo.
The models you will encounter most are the Wells Gardner K7000 and K7400 families in American cabs, the Electrohome G07 in older machines, the Nintendo Sanyo 20-EZV in Nintendo cabinets, and Hantarex, Neotec, and Kortek boards in imports and later games. Vector monitors, like the Wells Gardner K6100 in a Tempest or Star Wars cabinet, are a different animal from raster monitors and use different kits entirely, including special parts on the deflection board.
Once you have the chassis model, search its name plus “cap kit” to find the documented capacitor list, then match that list against the assortment kits above. This is where the general-purpose kits earn their keep: a K7000 recap list maps almost perfectly onto a 24-value assortment, with the occasional large B+ filter cap sourced separately. And a note on those long red-brown or black tubular parts you will see on old boards: those are typically electrolytics too, and yes, they get replaced along with the rest.
One safety note that belongs in every paragraph about opening a monitor: the picture tube holds a serious charge even after the game has been unplugged for days. Discharge the anode and unplug the chassis before you touch anything, and if you are not confident doing that, study a proper discharge procedure first or hand the job to someone experienced.
Signs Your Arcade Monitor Needs Recapping
Capacitors rarely fail dramatically, they fail gradually, which is why recapping is the first move on any newly acquired cabinet. Here are the symptoms our team treats as a flashing sign that the electrolytics are done.
Dark or dim picture that no brightness or screen control fixes, the classic dried-out electrolytic symptom.
Vertical collapse, a single bright horizontal line, pointing at the vertical deflection circuit’s caps.
Horizontal foldover or tearing at the top or side of the picture.
Wavy, rolling, or jittering image indicating ripple leaking into the power or video path.
Wrong colors or one missing color channel, often caps in the video output stage rather than a bad tube.
Slow or failed power-up, including a chassis that needs several attempts before the raster appears.
Visible bulging or leaked electrolyte on any cap, which means immediate replacement everywhere.
If your monitor shows two or three of these at once, a full recap is almost always cheaper than chasing individual parts. The forum wisdom holds up here: recap first, then diagnose what remains.
How to Choose a Capacitor Kit for Arcade Chassis Work?
Not every electrolytic assortment belongs inside a coin-op cabinet. These are the six factors I check before any kit touches an arcade chassis.
Temperature rating, 105C or go home. Heat is what kills capacitors, and an arcade cabinet is a heat trap. Kits rated to 105C, like the BOJACK, Swpeet, Tnisesm, Molence, and Dahszhi options above, will outlast 85C parts by a wide margin on the same board. The community consensus on the arcade forums matches this: always look for the 105C rating.
Never drop the voltage rating. A replacement capacitor must match the original’s capacitance in microfarads and meet or exceed its voltage rating. Going up in voltage is safe and often an improvement, as with the Dahszhi 10V caps replacing 6.3V originals. Going down in voltage destroys the cap, sometimes vividly.
Match capacitance, respect tolerance. Every kit here is built around a 20 percent tolerance, which is standard for electrolytics and fine for monitor work. Match the printed uF value of the original, do not substitute freely, since timing and deflection circuits are tuned to specific values.
Brand tiers are real. The community consistently ranks Nichicon, Rubycon, and Panasonic at the top, and monitor-specific get-well kits are usually built from Nichicon 105C stock. The general assortments here use unbranded or house-brand caps, which our tests show work well for player-grade machines. For a rare or valuable chassis, order name-brand caps for the video circuit and use the assortment for the rest.
Coverage beats piece count. A 24-value kit that spans 0.1uF to 1000uF is more useful on a raster chassis than a 925-piece kit missing your value. Check your chassis recap list against the kit’s range before buying, especially at the extremes, the sub-1uF decoupling caps and the big B+ filter positions where only some kits reach.
Low ESR helps in the hot spots. Equivalent series resistance is the measure of how much the cap impedes fast current changes, and lower is better in power supply and deflection circuits. The BEEYUIHF kit is the only one here that specifies low ESR outright, which is part of why it earns its premium billing despite the lower rating.
Physical fit is part of the spec. Modern capacitors are usually smaller than 1980s originals, which is convenient, but verify lead spacing and body diameter on the big filter caps. A 4700uF can that will not clear the chassis shield is a return shipment, not a repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems does a cap kit fix?
A cap kit fixes the picture problems caused by aged electrolytic capacitors: dark or dim images, vertical collapse, horizontal foldover, wavy or rolling pictures, missing or wrong colors, and slow or failed power-up. It does not fix a worn tube, a bad flyback, or physical damage, so recap first and then re-diagnose whatever symptoms remain.
What is the best capacitor kit for recapping CRTs?
For arcade raster chassis, a 24-value 105C assortment covering 0.1uF to 1000uF handles nearly every position, and the BOJACK 630-piece kit is our top pick with the Swpeet 240-piece kit as best value. If your chassis uses larger filter caps, pair it with a kit that reaches 2200uF to 4700uF, such as the Tnisesm or BlueStars. Monitor-specific get-well kits from specialist vendors are the alternative when you want a printed cross-reference sheet and name-brand Nichicon or Rubycon caps.
Do I replace these long red-brown capacitors when doing a re-cap?
Yes. Those long red-brown or black tubular parts are electrolytic capacitors, and they age and dry out just like the smaller ones. Replace every electrolytic on the chassis during a recap, matching the capacitance value and meeting or exceeding the voltage rating. The parts you leave behind are usually the first ones to fail next.
Can I replace arcade monitor capacitors myself?
Yes, if you can solder through-hole components safely and you respect the high-voltage hazard. Always unplug the game, discharge the tube anode, and work with one hand where possible before touching the chassis. The soldering itself is beginner-friendly, which is why a cap kit is considered the standard first arcade repair. If you are not comfortable discharging a CRT, have an experienced tech handle that step.
What is a reasonable cost to have an arcade monitor repaired?
Professional monitor repair typically bundles a bench fee plus parts and labor, so a shop recapping job generally costs several times what the components themselves run. That gap is why DIY cap kits are so popular: the parts are inexpensive and the labor is the real charge. Get a quote that states whether a full recap, flyback work, or a tube swap is included, since those are very different jobs.
Our Verdict
After bench-testing all eight assortments, our top recommendation for capacitor kits for arcade monitor repair is the BOJACK 630-piece kit: 24 values at 105C covers a full raster chassis with stock to spare. The Swpeet 240-piece kit is the smart buy for a first-time recap thanks to its labeled case, and the Tnisesm 28-value kit is the budget pick that quietly reaches 4700uF where other cheap kits stop.
Match the kit to your chassis before you order, photograph the board, respect the high voltage, and a dark dying picture gets a second life for less than the cost of a shop’s bench fee. Your cabinet has been waiting decades for this repair, and it takes about an afternoon.