Allen-Bradley Capacitors — Replacement Sourcing & Cross-Reference

Allen-Bradley Capacitors: History & Context

Allen-Bradley, founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, became one of the most recognized names in industrial automation. Now a brand of Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley is best known for its programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), and motor control systems that power manufacturing facilities worldwide.

While Allen-Bradley was not primarily a capacitor manufacturer, their drives and industrial systems relied heavily on high-quality electrolytic capacitors — particularly large-can aluminum electrolytics used in DC bus filtering, motor run circuits, and power factor correction. These capacitors were sourced from specialist manufacturers and often carried Allen-Bradley part numbers specific to their drive platforms.

As these drives age and the original capacitor specifications become obsolete, finding exact replacements becomes increasingly difficult. Specap specializes in cross-referencing these discontinued Allen-Bradley capacitor part numbers to compatible modern replacements from leading electrolytic capacitor manufacturers.

Common Allen-Bradley Drive Capacitors by Series

Cross-Referencing Allen-Bradley Capacitor Part Numbers

Allen-Bradley capacitor part numbers typically follow Rockwell Automation's internal numbering system rather than standard capacitor industry conventions. A part number like 1336-CAP-SP1A or a catalog number from a drive BOM does not directly indicate the capacitor's electrical specifications.

To find the correct replacement, our engineering team:

• Identifies the drive model and revision — Different hardware revisions of the same drive may use different capacitors.
• Extracts the original capacitor specs — Capacitance, voltage rating, ESR, ripple current handling, diameter, length, and terminal configuration.
• Matches to a modern equivalent — From manufacturers like KEMET, Nichicon, United Chemi-Con, or Vishay, ensuring electrical and mechanical compatibility.
• Verifies fit and function — Confirms the replacement physically fits the drive chassis and meets thermal requirements.

Use our cross-reference tool to start a search, or request a quote with your Allen-Bradley drive model and part number for a manual cross-reference by our team.

Industries That Need Allen-Bradley Capacitor Replacements

Allen-Bradley drives and automation systems are installed in facilities worldwide. When the DC bus capacitors in these drives degrade, the entire drive must be taken offline — making fast, accurate replacement sourcing critical for:

• Industrial manufacturing — Production lines running Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drives cannot afford extended downtime waiting for obsolete capacitor sourcing.
• HVAC & building automation — Allen-Bradley VFDs controlling chillers, air handling units, and pumps require reliable capacitor replacements to maintain building comfort systems.
• Motor drive applications — Legacy 1336 and 1397 drives in steel mills, paper plants, and water treatment facilities depend on capacitor replacements to extend equipment life.
• Power electronics & energy — Power factor correction capacitors in Allen-Bradley motor control centers require exact-spec replacements to maintain power quality compliance.
• Food & beverage processing — Washdown-rated drives and motor starters in food processing plants need replacement capacitors that meet the original environmental ratings.

Why Source Allen-Bradley Replacement Capacitors from Specap?

With over 40 years in the capacitor business, Specap understands the urgency of industrial drive capacitor replacement. When your Allen-Bradley drive is down, we can:

• Cross-reference your Allen-Bradley part number or drive model to a compatible modern capacitor
• Source from our existing inventory of obsolete and hard-to-find capacitors
• Provide form-fit-function replacements tested to meet or exceed original specifications
• Ship same-day on in-stock items to get your drive back online fast

Every capacitor we ship is electrically tested and inspected — no counterfeits, no relabeled parts, no guesswork on compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions