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Documents The Learning Circuit 40: Learning About Polymer Capacitors
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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: 25 Dec 2018 12:25 AM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 4 May 2021 2:37 PM
  • Views 2010 views
  • Likes 11 likes
  • Comments 6 comments
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The Learning Circuit 40: Learning About Polymer Capacitors

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Learning About Polymer Capacitors

The Learning Circuit | element14 presents |  Project Videos

 

 

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Capacitors are a seemingly simple device. In this episode, James goes deep into what makes polymer capacitors different from other capacitor types. Spoiler alert: it is a material found on the cathode side of the capacitor that makes a polymer, a polymer. Additionally, he covers what to consider when trying to switch from a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) to a polymer.

 

Take the Polymer Capacitor Quiz

Learn more about Passive Components

Join the Experimenting with Polymer Capacitor Competition

Related Episode:  The Learning Circuit 42: Replacing MLCCs with Polymer Capacitors

 

Finding specifications on capacitors varies by manufacturer. Some provide very detailed, yet complicated, charts in their datasheets while others provide on-line tools. In this video James used a simulation tool from KEMET Electronics called K-SIM and one from Murata called Sim Surfer.

 

One downside to these tools is that they are vendor specific. Unlike circuit simulation tools, these "simualtors" are simulating the capacitor's parameters. Many engineers will simply use their design's worst case when trying to get information from these tools. Keep in mind that most will let you export a netlist for use in circuit simulation tools. Unforutantely, those netlists are only valid for the specific conditions that they were generated. For example, if you generate an X5R model at 70°C, you would need a seperate model for 85°C.

 

Often over looked, there are application engineers available to help you. One option is to start with your favorite distributor, like Farnell or Newark. If they do not have someone on their support team that can answer your capacitor questions, they can reach out to manufacturers on your behalf to get application specific data. And, of course, you can leave questions below for help from the element14 community!

 

Supplemental Content:

 

  • The Learning Circuit 29: How Capacitors Work
  • The Learning Circuit 30: Capacitor Substitution Box!

 

Bill of Material:

 

PartManufacturerQuantityBuy KitBuy Kit
Aluminum Polymers

560 µF  SP-CAP

Panasonic1Buy NowBuy Now

100 µF 25V

KEMET1Buy NowBuy Now
EEH-ZE1V151P - 150 µF 35  V (Hybrid)Panasonic1Buy NowBuy Now
16SVPK680M 680 µF 16 VPanasonic1Buy NowBuy Now
Tantalum Polymers
T530X158M2R5ATE005 - 1500 µF KO-CAPKEMET1Buy NowBuy Now
T530X158M2R5ATE005 - 1500 µF KO-CAPKEMET1Buy NowBuy Now
T520V107M006ATE007 - 100 µF 6.3 VKEMET1Buy NowBuy Now
  • polymer capacitors
  • polymers
  • kocap
  • oscon
  • capacitors
  • polymer electrolytic capacitors
  • tantalum
  • e14presents_baldengineer
  • poscap
  • passive components
  • aluminum capacitor
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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 4 years ago +3
    Very good update on the current capacitor types and issues. I have not been keeping up with the technology changes, so I appreciate the detailed presentation. Well done. DAB
  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 4 years ago +3
    Update on the "ESR is flat with frequency." In the video, I used Murata's SimSurfing to show the behavior of a ceramic capacitor (MLCC). One thing that puzzled me was that the ESR graph in their simulator…
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 4 years ago +1
    Thank you for the taste of the complexity of different capacitor types. It would be great to see this essentials further expanded so that we could get more of you normal 1 hour presentation on capacitors…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 1 year ago

    thanks my issue has been fixed.

    https://creditcardsupportx.com/qvc-credit-card/

    https://creditcardsupportx.com/burlington-credit-card/

    https://creditcardsupportx.com/menards-credit-card/

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  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 4 years ago in reply to koudelad
    However, it makes me doubt about any capacitor I ever used, whether it was selected properly

     

    That's not the first time I've heard that. image

     

    But, it does help answer a common question I would get: "why does a capacitor company need a field application engineer?"

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  • koudelad
    koudelad over 4 years ago

    Great video, thank you.

    I also enjoyed this podcast, where James was invited as a guest: https://macrofab.com/blog/mep-ep-141-it-depends-an-in-depth-look-at-mlccs-with-james-lewis/

     

    However, it makes me doubt about any capacitor I ever used, whether it was selected properly image

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 4 years ago

    Thank you for the taste of the complexity of different capacitor types. It would be great to see this essentials further expanded so that we could get more of you normal 1 hour presentation on capacitors. I would be interested in your presentation with respect to the power supply board you mentioned.

     

    John

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  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 4 years ago
    Update on the "ESR is flat with frequency."

    In the video, I used Murata's SimSurfing to show the behavior of a ceramic capacitor (MLCC). One thing that puzzled me was that the ESR graph in their simulator showed a flat response across frequency. (That's when I shot the camera a glaring look.)

     

    image

     

    Later, I realized why the response was shown that way. It's because I had selected SimSurfing's "Simple" Models. With this model, the ESR for a ceramic capacitor is calculated as a flat response. Which makes sense. Generally, you only care about the capacitor's self-resonant frequency, so less math since you only care about one point.

     

    Simple

    With the simple model, the frequency characteristic is drawn flat.

    image

     

    Precise

    When Precise is enabled, then the response is much similar to what I would have expected.

    image

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  • DAB
    DAB over 4 years ago

    Very good update on the current capacitor types and issues.

    I have not been keeping up with the technology changes, so I appreciate the detailed presentation.

     

    Well done.

     

    DAB

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