Name: element14 Presents: Decoding Capacitors: Understanding Types, Considerations, and Circuit Examples!
Start: 2023-06-29T19:00Z
End: 2023-06-29T20:00Z

Capacitors are deceptively complex components. Sure, they "just" store charge in an electrostatic field. But many more details are needed to understand them. For example, there are hundreds of options for a 1 uf capacitor. So, which one to pick?

Well, it turns out the materials used to construct them, where you place them in a circuit, and how you plan to use them all go into deciding how to pick the right one!

In this live interactive session, element14 Presents hosts Derek (of DC to Daylight) and James (from Workbench Wednesdays), review different capacitors types, explain the fundamental things to know about each, and then walk through a couple of real circuit examples. In those examples, they discuss the considerations for each capacitor. (And provide recommendations on the type!)

Throughout, you will have opportunities to ask questions to help better how to understand how to pick the best capacitor for your application.

Takeaway: What are the 3 or 4 questions you should ask when choosing a capacitor?

Video Links to Review Beforehand

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The Presenters


Derek Brodeur, element14 Presents Host	James Lewis, element14 Presents Host
Host of DC to Daylight, Derek has experience using capacitors in the design of RF/IoT industrial products, linear AC/DC power supplies and has operated as an FA tech in the field of DC/DC converter failure analysis. His 25 years of career experience includes robotics application engineering and semiconductor product engineering.	Host of Workbench Wednesdays, James has over a decade of experience with passive components, specifically with capacitors. He has presented at numerous venues and written many articles on understanding capacitor types and when to use them. Also, being the bald engineer gives him unique insights into capacitors.

About element14 presents

Join the makers and engineers of element14 presents as they tackle fun and interesting projects each week using circuitry design, 3D printing, microcontrollers, modelling, design, and much more. What should we build next? Let us know! You can watch episodes updated every Wednesday and Friday on the element14 Community: element14 presents

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After having watched the webcast there are a couple of subjects I would like to dive deeper into.
First off I would like to ask what causes the capacitance to decrease as voltage increases?
I am guessing it changes the permittivity of the dielectric, but I have no clue as to why.

Another question I have is about the selection of capacitors in the circuit with the TPS563240DDCR. In the table for selecting Cout it says to use the highest rated voltage, wouldn't a capacitor with a voltage of 1.5x or 2x the output voltage have good enough margins?

My last question is about the cause of electrolytics exploding, and by having heard in the webcast that hydrogen and oxygen are being generated in the can am I wrong in guessing that a similar chemical reaction to electrolysis is happening in the capacitor that is splitting water molecules?
This would be my assumption for water-based electrolytes.
Thanks for the webcast and the knowledge shared, I really learned a lot from it.

The capacitance decrease in MLCC was attributed to the polarization of the barium titanate based dielectric. Yes, eventually it's permeability. Good tip was that if the capacitor material is white, it’s not a subject, the brown ones are.

Margin wise: many factors calls for derating. Temperature, DC bias, aging, reflow soldering stress. One reason might be covered by 2x aerate, however all factors might become significant, so more derating might be warranted.

Aluminum Electrolytics exploding: it’s due to the breakdown of the electrolyte in reverse polarity, producing gas (hydrogen). The excess pressure pops the casing. It’s not a fiery kind of explosion, like a tantalum cap would demonstrate.

Top Comments

Andrew J over 1 year ago +1

Promises to be interesting. Will you be able to demonstrate the impact of different capacitors in the same circuit to clarify the discussion?
ggabe over 1 year ago in reply to lorenzoapd +1

The capacitance decrease in MLCC was attributed to the polarization of the barium titanate based dielectric. Yes, eventually it's permeability. Good tip was that if the capacitor material is white, it…

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lorenzoapd over 1 year ago

After having watched the webcast there are a couple of subjects I would like to dive deeper into.
First off I would like to ask what causes the capacitance to decrease as voltage increases?
I am guessing it changes the permittivity of the dielectric, but I have no clue as to why.

Another question I have is about the selection of capacitors in the circuit with the TPS563240DDCR. In the table for selecting Cout it says to use the highest rated voltage, wouldn't a capacitor with a voltage of 1.5x or 2x the output voltage have good enough margins?

My last question is about the cause of electrolytics exploding, and by having heard in the webcast that hydrogen and oxygen are being generated in the can am I wrong in guessing that a similar chemical reaction to electrolysis is happening in the capacitor that is splitting water molecules?
This would be my assumption for water-based electrolytes.
Thanks for the webcast and the knowledge shared, I really learned a lot from it.
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ggabe over 1 year ago in reply to lorenzoapd

The capacitance decrease in MLCC was attributed to the polarization of the barium titanate based dielectric. Yes, eventually it's permeability. Good tip was that if the capacitor material is white, it’s not a subject, the brown ones are.

Margin wise: many factors calls for derating. Temperature, DC bias, aging, reflow soldering stress. One reason might be covered by 2x aerate, however all factors might become significant, so more derating might be warranted.

Aluminum Electrolytics exploding: it’s due to the breakdown of the electrolyte in reverse polarity, producing gas (hydrogen). The excess pressure pops the casing. It’s not a fiery kind of explosion, like a tantalum cap would demonstrate.
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ggabe over 1 year ago in reply to lorenzoapd

The capacitance decrease in MLCC was attributed to the polarization of the barium titanate based dielectric. Yes, eventually it's permeability. Good tip was that if the capacitor material is white, it’s not a subject, the brown ones are.

Margin wise: many factors calls for derating. Temperature, DC bias, aging, reflow soldering stress. One reason might be covered by 2x aerate, however all factors might become significant, so more derating might be warranted.

Aluminum Electrolytics exploding: it’s due to the breakdown of the electrolyte in reverse polarity, producing gas (hydrogen). The excess pressure pops the casing. It’s not a fiery kind of explosion, like a tantalum cap would demonstrate.
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