The Handiman’s Guide to CAPACITORS Paul Harden, NASN ([email protected]) Capacitors comprise the /argest variety of electronic components. There are manty types of capacitors, great variations in their performance, many methods of packaging and marking, and dozens of major manufacturers, not to mention new types constantly being introduced with specific applications and performances. As a result, capacitors often cause lots of problems for homebrewers. Hopefilly this article will take some of the my stery out of the myriad of capacitors available, plus present some of the classic “do’sand don'ts,” PRINCIPAL CAPACITOR TYPES ‘There are many capacitor types, which usually refers to the material used for the electrodes, dielectric, and the packaging or sealing method, Here are some of the major capacitor types used by QRPers: DISK CERAMIC CAPACITORS Solid ga, Disk Ceramics consist of two metalic Electrodes i plates separated by a ceramic dielectric, whose area and spacing determines the Coram capacitance., These caps are low cost and suitable for many applications. Their main disadvantage is high capacitance changes EPOXY Encapsulation with temperature (high temperature coefficient), except for the “NPO” varieties that are temperature stable. These caps are the most commonly used for general purpose citcuts, butthenon-NPO types should be avoided in frequeney determining citculs. MONOLITHIC CERAMIC CAPACITORS Alternating layers of electrodes and Eneapsuiation Multia red ceramic dielectric allow higher "Chip capacitances in physically smaller YY HSS packages. Their charuoteristics are very similar to disk ceramics. They are encapsulated in epoxy to Withstand insertion, soldering and Alternating layers ‘i ™ of dielectric and solvent cleaning by the automatic PCB assembly electrodes machines. Introduced for mass production, they are (Basis of “chip capacitors) inexpensive and available from surplus dealers POLYESTER FILM CAPACITORS Polyester Films use layers of metal and polyester (Mylar®) dielectric t0 make a wide range of capacitances in relatively small packages at low voltages, These Metal Foil “9 have become the standard caps for DC Fleetrodes applications, The “tolled” film layers Polyeares Mirar®) cause high dissipation and capacitance vs SSCS APS tempcrature problems, and should be used carefully inhigh frequency or high eurrentapplicationsPOLYPROPELENE FILM CAPACITORS Polypropelene Films use layers of metal and polypropelene dielectric films virtually identical to Polyester Film caps. The polypropelene, however, is a dielectric offering a higher breakdown voltage than polyester, and thus more suitable for high voltage applications, such as switching power supplies. They also have low loss factors and good capacitance stability making them a good choice for high frequeney applications, including oseillators and other frequency sensitive circuits. The main disadvantages are & slightly higher cost, and larger physical sizes over other film dielectric capacitors SILVER MICA CAPACITORS Filled Sleeve This is a type of capacitor known as metalized Encapsulation lm capacitor, in that the electrodes area metal deposited by a sputtering process onto the diclectric film. Silver Micu’s use a mica film diclectric with a thin layer of deposited silver forming the electrodes. These are very stable capacitors for high frequency circuits and the preferred choice for VFO and oscillator circuits. The main disadvantage are their higher cost, low operating voltages, and sometimes hard to find from hobby vendors, POLYCARBONATE FILM CAPACITORS ‘These capacitors have become the standard for high stability MIL-SPEC film dielectrics. Their very low dissipation and extreme temperature stability make them almost the ideal capacitor -at a price! They are very expensive capacitors and not available from the hobby vendors, but listed here in the event yau have the opportunity to appropriate som ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS Aluminum Electrolytics are the most common, inexpensive electrolytic available from all hobby vendors. They are made similar to the polyester films, using aluminum foil electrodes and a dielectric material rolled into layers to increase the effective plate area to form high capacitances in small packages. The aluminum foil is “wetted” with a chemical agent to assist in conduction and increases the dielectric properties when a DC voltage is applied. This wetting agent can dry out afier long periods of no use, or exceeding the rated voltage, causing a breakdown of the dielectric and component failure (usually a short cireuit between the terminals). This is why electrolytics are often found shorted in older equipment that has not been powered for years. This is seldom a problem with equipment that is periodically powered up. These inexpensive aluminum electrolytic capsare suitable in all QRP applications TANTALUM CAPACITORS ‘Tantalum’s are « most unusual process that yeilds x high reliable electrolytic with @ long life. Tantalum pentoxide powder is mixed with a manganese dioxide electrolyte and formed into a “pellet,” forming hath the dielectric and the positive electrode plate. Graphite or silver plating forms the negative plate This “pellet” forms a very large effective plate area, and thus very high capacitances in very small packages. Both wet and dry electrolytes are used, and called wet or dry tantalums. There are few QRP applications where tantalum’s would be a musi, butif you have them -- use them! The chief disadvantages are higher cost due to the complicated manufacturing process, and ensuring yournever reverse the polarity. A small positive voltage on the negative terminal can fuse the “pellet.” Silver Electrodes (deposited and fused to the mica dielectric film base) Mica Film, DielectricPRINCIPAL PACKAGING STYLES In addition to the capacitor types (ceramic, metalized films, ete.), the packaging sivle is also important, and often required when ordering. The major capacitor packaging styles are shown below, whieh can also be used as an aid in identifying unknown capacitors CAPACITORS WITH RADIAL LEADS Disk p Resin of Epox Ceramic Monolythics and Metalized Films Molded Mono! 1 Ts 4 M15-MSO__M60 KOS. CKO6 Medes Morayihie Dipped Tubular Conformal Coating ie dated on, modern and Metalized Films um drops") data sheets, rather than specifying the actual encapsulation material. This means an epoxy or resin agent is used suitable for automatic insertion, wave soldering and ‘Slahdoffe industrial cleaners. Conformal coatings are more durable than coatings used on older Type CKR capacitors. CAPACITORS WITH AXIAL LEADS Resin Dipped Epoxy or Resin Resin Molded Monolythic Filled Sleeve Monolythic Type Por CK12 ost3 CL23 or GKR11 ORDERINGISPECIFYING CAPACITORS When ordering capacitors, obviously the first concern is the capacitance, voltage rating and capacitor type needed. However, the temperature coefficient (IC) should be considered in frequeney sensitive cireuits (oscillators, VEO"s, ete.) and the dissipation factor (DF) or @ when efficient energy transfer is needed (interstage coupling, active filters, ete.) or high peak-to-peak voltages (transmilter output filter caps) TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT The temperature coefficient (TC) is the change in capacitance vs. a change in temperature. The ideal capacitor should have very little capacitance change with tempera- ture, butas the charts show below, some eapacitor types are far fromideal! Capacitance Change vs. Temperature Ceramic Capacitors Film Capacitors 2g%c 2c +20) +20 Cap. Change (%) Cap. Change (%) or 40) 60 - 60 80 40 0 40 80 120 160 “80 -40 0 40 8 120 160 Temperature (°C) ‘Temperature (°C) (GS 28°C = 77°F = room temperature, where most electronic components, including capacitors, are specified.‘The most common ceramic/monolithic ceramies are X7R, ZU and YSV. The ZSU and ‘YSV havea large temperature coefficient (and a large dissipation factor ~- sce below) and should not be used in frequeney critical circuits or for coupling between stages. They are suitable for other general purpose applications and for DC and bypassing caps. XTR’s are the next best with moderate capacitance change vs. temperature and suitable as, a general purpose capacitor, and can be used in oscillator circuits where moderate drift is acceptable, NPO(or COG) are those ccramicsmade with a temperature stable dielectric which exhibits very little capacitance change with temperature. NP0’s (N-P-zero) are recommended for oscillators and frequency sensitivecireuits, FILM CAPACITORS, such as the polyester and polypropylene, have much better capacitance stability vs. temperature than the general purpose ceramics, as also shown in the charts. Polyester caps are quite stable until about 120F. DISSIPATION FACTOR (DF) The Dissipation Factor (DF) is the ratio of the energy dissipated (lost) to the energy stored in the capacitor. The DF is frequeney sensitive and specified at a certain frequency, such as IKHz (for ceramics). The Quality Factor (Q) is the ratio of the energy stored vs. the energy dissipated - or the opposite of the dissipation fuetor, Film capacitors are usually specified by their “Q” factor. Capacitors used for coupling small signals between stages, in active filters, the shunt eaps on crystal filter, orin'the transmitter output filter, should use low DF caps. Most all poly film caps and some monolithic ceramics meet this requirement. Old ceramic caps in your transmitter output filter should be replaced with a low DF capacitor type, asa high DF cap here can absorb a surprising amount of your output power, and us QRPers need to get as, muchof that power to the antenna we cau! 27 "lfecePoiycarbonate = 1 SHPE=Polyester u; | *flpp=Potyeropytone| | 10) ER sk C = ‘KHZ 40KHz OOKH2 80 40 0 40 80 120 160 Frequency Temperature (°C) THE BOTTOM LINE Ceramics that are not NPO make good general purpose capacitors for bypass caps, ete. but should not be used for interstage coupling or in oscillators, When ordering new caps, I ‘would recommend purchasing the monolithic ceramics for theirlower eost. NPO Ceramics especially the mono’s) are « good choice for oscillator circuits, Film Dielectrics are a good choice for # general purpose capacitor with low dissipation factors and good temperature characteristics. With their reasonably low cost, and about the same as ceramics, they would be today’s preferred choice when purchasing new Capacitors dueto the low cost and better performance characteristics, ‘When ordering caps, look at the specifications carefully for TC and DF, along with the information and charts in this article, to make the best choice, performance vs. cost.REFERENCE INFORMATION ‘The information on the following two pages is meant to be a general reference guide to assist in identifying capacitors, specificationsand standard values. Taoa eae el 1. EIA IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS FOR CERAMICS EIA TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTIC CODES ZzsU hota Minimum. Maximum Temperature Temperature asc 65°C B5°C 105°C 125°C Capacitance Change over the Temperature Range A=£1.0% 9 P=£10% Beil5z REISE 12% 3k Tk Fet?.5% -35,422% 56,4224 v=.82,+22% CERAMIC Example Z6U = Capacitance change is -56% to +22% ox the temperature range +10°C to +85°C Tolerance Codes: VALUE AND TOLERANCE 224d rN sc=8.25pF = 50pF Jet 5% K=£10% P= ox W=-20% to to +100% + 40% Capacitive Number of TPE CSIR) Value in pF ——Zeroes, 2PFCE22) L=£15% w=420% 20% 20% to + 50x to + 80x * <10pF, tolerance in pF (codes C-G) * >40pF. tolerance in % (codes F-2) 2. DIRECT VALUE MARKING Example: 20000pF 22uF, 5% Tol. Some manufacturer's mark the capacitance value directly on the case, along with other information, Ceramics will use the EIA codes (Z5U, X7R, etc.) while non-ceramics will Use the industry codes (NPO, N150, etc.) forthe temperature coefficient 220=22pF, 321=200pF, ete, 3. INDUSTRY MARKINGS FOR MONOLYTHIC & FILM CAPACITORS Non-ceramic capacitors use the EIA markings for the perature Coefficients (TC) capacitance value and corankes (a) & Finns Bishostios tolerance. jowever, these dielectrics, such as polyester or | FIAH INDUSTRY Tc. (ppm) polypropelene, have a lingar | COG NFO ee change in capacitance per °C Sie NOSE = 35 pp and thus the temperature coefficients are Wig OTS, =! Spe expressed in parts-per-million (ppm)/°C 2g 150 = 150ppm orin%MC. A few of the common industry S2H = N330— + 330ppm (non-ceramic) and EIA (ceramic) mark- vas N750 + 750ppm ings are shown in the followingtable, PBK N1S0O__-1500ppm4. COLOR CODING SCHEMES Capacitor color coding schemes have all but disappeared except on some foreign made ceramics and dipped tantalums. The prevalent schemes are shown below. CURRENT COLOR SCHEMES MONOLYTHIG CAPACITOR (STILL IN USE) Use Table 1 DIPPED TANTALUM CAPACITOR eB in (80 Table 1 Mutter ae) Mutioter 18t Digit —, folerance me <01 Gray || otage oC tack #202 oe OG 27 rays |larown aoovy—y lack 20 1 Black | |Red 200v Green t 5% 10 Brown ||Yellow 400v Voltage Rating 3v white 20v Blue 6.5 Yellow 25v Gray ee aa es Aegreee aa Fink Color Digit _ plier %Tol,_ppinéc| Black oO 1 #20% - O Brown 1040 4-30 Red 2 100 £ 2% - 80 TUBULAR CERAMIC CAPACITOR |]Orange 3 “1k 2150 Yellow 4 10K ~220 Green 3 aoa £ 5% -330 Blue 6 i" 470 Temperature Cetioent ff threrance |[vtoter 7 = {st Digt = 2i Rea |[White 9 i103 _ +500, in| 2nd Digit 4 5% Green Canactance Temp. Cooficent ee 10s Mises Veet ickateh Use Table 1 220% Black types typod ony SIZPyGrNen aes eaters) These are the EIA standard capacitor values. These are the values available from most vendors. Non-polarized run from IpF to lu, while electrolyties are available from0.1uF and higher (notall electrolytic values listed here). 1.0pF 10pF 100pF —OO1uF_ «tur = uF = 1.0uF_ 1 0uF 1.2pF 12pF = 1200F«O012UFO1QuF.12uF = 1.2uF 1 2uF 1.5pF 15pF 150pF = OO1SuFO1SuF 15uF = 1.SuF —16uF 1.8pF 18pF 180pF-OO1@uF = Ot8uF«18uF «= 1.8uF_ 1 8uF 22pF —22pF © -220pF_—0022uFO22uF22uF- «2. 2uF = 22uF 27pF 27pF © -270pF 0027uF_O27uF = 27uF. 2 7uF = 27uF 33pF 33pF © -330pF —003uF_O33uF SUF 3.3uF33uF 3.QpF 39pF —-390pF—O0SuF_O3GuF Gur «= 3.9uF30uF ATF 47pF 0 470pF O047uFO47uF ATUF = 4.7uF = 47UF S6pF S6pF —S60pF O0S6uF_OS6uFS6uF = S.6uF SUF G8pF GBpF G80pF —OO6SuFOS8uF BUF © 6 BuF BBUF The capacitor information in this article (which includes postage to US/VE was extracted from the Data Book for addresses). Available from: Homebrewers and QRPers, whieh Quicksilver Printing contains data and information sheets on P.O. Box 757 most all discrete components, hardware, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 IC’s, ete. It is available for $20 each —_(orinfo from: [email protected])