Capacitors


When you have finished, press the "Technical" button on the left to return to the Main Page, or press an appropriate button to go to a different section.
If there are no buttons on the left, you probably got directly to this page via a search engine. 

This article is not intended to be a definitive treatise on the subject, but is intended to give a general over-view, which I hope will be particularly interesting and helpful to the newcomer to Amateur Radio.

There are probably more different types of capacitors, or condensers as they used to be called, than any other type of electrical component, so I will limit the scope of this article to a brief description of the various types and their uses.  The different types of capacitor have different circuit symbols, as shown below.




As with resistors, capacitors come in a large range of physical forms and may be either fixed or variable.  Many are available with axial or radial leads, or are primarily intended for printed circuit mounting or are fitted with threaded bushes or solder tags.  There are types with no leads at all that are either intended for surface mounting using metalled ends intended to be directly soldered onto copper tracks on a PCB, or in the case of bare discs, with surface metallising intended to be soldered directly to other components or copper track.  There are encapsulated variants for use in adverse environmental conditions, high power types, sub-miniature surface mounting types, low self-inductance types, high voltage types, the list goes on and on.

But first, what is a capacitor?  For the purposes of this article, we can regard a capacitor, other than a varicap diode or varactor diode, as two conductive plates separated by an insulator, the dielectric, or a stack of such devices connected in parallel.  The capacity value is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates and is proportional to the number of plate pairs, the area of the plates and the dielectric constant, or permittivity, of the insulator.  A vacuum, or for all practical purposes, air, has a dielectric constant of 1, with all other insulators having values greater than unity.


Capacity values are now stated in Farads (F), using the normal decimal sub- multipliers of pico (p), nano (n), and micro (µ), although "jars" were originally used (1.0µ = 900jars).  As the farad is such a large unit, it is not normally necessary to use multipliers.  Thus, for example, 0.1 picafarad is normally written as 0p1, 1.0 picafarad as 1p0, 1.5 picafarads as 1p5, 1000 picafarads as 1000p or 1n, 0.1 microfarads as 100n, 1.0 microfarad as 1µ and 1000 microfarads as 1000µ.  Alpha-numeric marking is used for larger value types , whereas standard colour coding or alpha-numeric markings are used to indicate component values on low value types.  The latter method is self evident and in the former method, a series of coloured bands is used to indicate value and tolerance, with the first band located near one end of the component and often wider than the other bands. 
The Standard EIA Colour Code Table per EIA-RS-279 is as follows:-
 
     Colour   1st band   2nd band      3rd band       4th band      Temperature
                                     (Multiplier)    (tolerance)    Coefficient
     Black       0          0        ×1                 ±1%
     Brown       1          1        ×10                ±2%           100 ppm
     Red         2          2        ×100                             50 ppm
     Orange      3          3        ×1000                            15 ppm
     Yellow      4          4        ×100000                          25 ppm
     Green       5          5        ×1000000           ±0.5%
     Blue        6          6        ×10000000          ±0.25%
     Violet      7          7        ×100000000         ±0.1%
     Grey        8          8        ×1000000000        ±0.05%
     White       9          9        ×10000000000
     Gold                            ×0.1               ±5%
     Silver                          ×0.01              ±10%
     None                                               ±20%

Although it is theoretically possible to manufacture capacitors having any nominal value of capacity, the smaller value types are normally produced with "standard" picafarad values.  These values are normally in the E12, also known as the 10% series (10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68 and 82) or the E24, also known as the 5% series (10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 75, 82, 91) series.  Larger value types are normally manufactured with "decade" microfarad values, e.g. 1.0, 10, 100, 1000.  Electrolytics are often manufactured with intermediate microfarad values, such as 2, 8, 16, 32, 50, 64, 100, 150, 200 and 500.

Temperature coefficients are stated in "parts per million per degree centigrade" and can be either positive or negative, although negative values are more common.  For example, the capacity of a 100pf capacitor, with a stated temperature coefficient of N750 would reduce by 7.5pf if its temperature were to be raised by 100 degrees centigrade.

Before continuing, let us consider voltage, current and temperature ratings.  Most people understand the voltage rating of a capacitor but many do not appreciate that capacitors also have series resistance, leakage resistance and maximum current ratings.  These are not normally a problem when capacitors are used as coupling or de-coupling components in low power circuits.  However, in applications such as reservoir and smoothing capacitors in power supplies, coupling and tuning capacitors in high power RF transmitters and high power pulse applications, such as are required for flash discharge tubes, the current rating and series resistance are very important, as currents of many amperes may be encountered.

The series resistance of a capacitor is that intrinsic resistance existing in the terminal wires, the internal connections to the plates and in the plates themselves.  Any current flowing in this resistance will generate heat, which could result in excessive temperature rise.  Leakage resistance is that intrinsic resistance existing in parallel with the capacitor plates.  Any voltage across the capacitor will cause current to flow in this leakage resistance with consequent generation of heat.  With modern capacitors, except perhaps electrolytic types, series and leakage resistances are not usually a problem.

The voltage specified on any given capacitor is the "working voltage" but a test, peak or surge voltage may also be specified.  Working voltage is the maximum continuous voltage that the capacitor will withstand for extended periods of time, although it is good engineering practice to assume an actual working voltage of about 75% of the stated value.  The test, peak or surge voltage is that non- repetitive voltage that the capacitor will withstand for extremely limited periods of time.

The ability of all capacitors to maintain their values, pass current or withstand voltage is adversely affected by excessively low or high temperatures.  Hence capacitors have temperature, as well as voltage and current, ratings.  Electrolytic capacitors are particularly sensitive to temperature.
Large electrolytic capacitors used in smoothing circuits may have to pass several tens of amps of ripple current at the same time withstanding an applied DC voltage of scores, or even hundreds, of volts.  A transmitter delivering 1000W into a 50ohm feeder via a DC blocking capacitor will require that capacitor to pass a current of 4.47A.

The last "parasitic" element to be considered is self-inductance.  This appears in series with the capacitive element of the component and becomes increasingly important as the operating frequency increases, becoming of paramount importance in UHF and microwave applications, where a capacitor can actually become a resonant circuit.

Let us now consider the different types of capacitor that are available and their applications.

FIXED CAPACITORS

These types are categorised according to the dielectric used and most of these can be sub-divided into many different types.

Vacuum Dielectric

Fixed vacuum capacitors are basically non-adjustable versions of the vacuum variable (see below).  Versions are available with capacities of up to 1000pF at working voltages of up to 50kV.  They are capable of carrying RF currents in excess of 30A.  Needless to say, these capacitors are extremely expensive.  The photos below are reproduced with the kind permission of Dave Knight G3YNH.  


Air Dielectric

Fixed air dielectric capacitors are rare and are normally limited to very high power transmitter applications.  They usually consist of flat metal plates separated by glass or ceramic insulators.  Working voltages up to hundreds of kV can be obtained, with capacity values of up to several hundred pF.  The series resistance is extremely low and the leakage resistance is extremely high.  Consequently, the Q is also very high.  This type of capacitor would be a purpose built item for a specific application.


Paper Dielectric

Paper capacitors are now virtually obsolete but were very common prior to the advent of the more modern plastic film types in the early 1960s.  They employed metal foil, to which the leads were connected, on either side of a thin paper strip.  When a sufficient length of strip had been manufactured, depending on the required value of the finished capacitor, it was wound into a tube which was then inserted into an outer case, often of cardboard but sometimes consisting of a sealed metal tube.  The entire assembly was then wax impregnated before the ends of the outer case were sealed.
Some more specialised types were housed in sealed metal cans, often fitted with terminals.  These capacitors were sometimes manufactured as multiple units, where two or more individual capacitors were mounted in a single can.



They were used for general purpose coupling, de-coupling and smoothing purposes, with values ranging from about 1000pF to several microfarads.  Working voltages between 100V and several kV were available.  The value tolerance was usually ±20%.  Some types suffered from an effect called "migratory placticisers", where the paper insulation becomes brittle, which causes it to crack and break down after prolonged use.  It is never advisable to apply voltages greater than half the working voltage to this type of capacitor and, if used in a mains filter, the DC working voltage should be at least three times the applied RMS voltage, unless the component is specifically designed for AC applications.

This type of capacitor exhibits fairly low-Q and poor temperature stability.  Even so, block paper capacitors housed in sealed metal cans and having values of 4µF or more, were often used instead of the much smaller but, at the time, much less reliable, electrolytic alternatives.



Motor start, motor run and power factor correction capacitors are usually metalised paper types, although special AC rated, reversible electrolytic types exist for motor applications.  Metalised paper capacitors for these applications are usually housed in sealed metal cans.  These capacitors are designed to carry fairly large AC currents and therefore have substantial terminals, rather than wire connections.

Plastic Film Dielectric


Plastic film capacitors employ a metal deposition, to which the leads are connected, on either side of a thin plastic film.  When a sufficient length of strip has been manufactured, depending on the required value of the finished capacitor, it is wound into a tube, and either encapsulated in a plastic compound or covered in more film before sealing the ends.  This type of capacitor has almost entirely replaced the paper dielectric type in coupling, de-coupling, timing and similar low to medium frequency applications.  Specialised types are available for motor run and start, power factor correction, mains filtering, sample and hold, high stability RF tuning, high current pulse and many other applications.  The plastic film can be mylar, polystyrene, polyester, polycarbonate or polypropylene, depending on application.  PTFE is sometimes used as a dielectric but metal cannot easily be deposited on this material and its use is limited to very specialised applications.  Values range from a few pF to several µF and working voltages range from around 50V to a few kV, depending on type and application.  Value tolerances are normally better than ±10% for the higher values and better than ±2% for the smaller values.  This type of capacitor exhibits medium to high-Q and has very good temperature stability, particularly in the lower values.


Ceramic Dielectric

 Ceramic capacitors are available in three main types, namely tubular, disc and surface mounting.  They two former types employ metallising, to which the leads are attached, on either side of the ceramic and both are available in values ranging from less than 1pF to 1µF, although higher values are sometimes encountered.  The surface mounting versions are similar to the disc type except that the leads are replaced by metalled end caps.  Normally, the temperature stability and Q decreases as the value increases.  The higher values are normally used as de-coupling capacitors but the lower values can be used as the capacitive element in LC tuned circuits.  Components with values less than 100pF are available with closely controlled temperature coefficients of between P100 and N750, including NP0 and are often used to compensate for temperature drift in other components.  Value tolerances are normally better than ±20% for the higher values and better than ±2% for the smaller values.  The higher value types have large, ill-defined temperature coefficients.  Working voltages depend on type and value and are typically 63V for the higher values and up to 250V for the smaller values.  Special types are available, such as discs for use in the high voltage circuits of video monitors and TV receivers.  These types are available with working voltages up to 5kV.



Special types of ceramic capacitors have been designed for use in high power RF transmitters.  These can have working voltages up to more than 30kV and can carry more than 50 amperes of RF without damage.  These types exhibit high temperature coefficients and are therefore not suitable for use in stable frequency determining applications.


Bare disc capacitors without leads or encapsulation are also available.  In this type, the plates comprise metallising on either side of the disc and they are intended to be soldered directly to PCB tracks or other components.  The main use of this type is in UHF and microwave applications, where low series inductance is very important.  Values range from a few pF to about 1000pF, with value tolerances better than ±10% and working voltages of around 100V.


Another variety of ceramic capacitor is the monolithic or "Monobloc" type.  These are multi-plate ceramic components where the plates and connection wires, dielectric and overall casing are combined into a single, homogeneous block, hence the name monolithic, or "single stone".  Similar comments apply to these types as apply to ordinary ceramic discs, except high voltage and high current types are not available.  This type of capacitor is also available in surface mounting versions.
The feed-through capacitor is a special type of ceramic capacitor, whereby a lead may be passed through a screened plate or chassis.  They consist of a tubular ceramic capacitor, where one lead is connected to the metallising inside the tube and is passed through the tube to provide a connection at each end.  The other plate is formed by metallising on the outside of the tube, which is either soldered to a connection ring or to a threaded bush.  Those with the connecting ring are soldered directly to the chassis, whereas those with a threaded bush are fixed with a nut.  The purpose of this type of capacitor is to provide a convenient method of passing a lead through a metal plate and efficiently de-coupling it to earth at the same time.  They are often used as the input and output connections to sealed, metal cased, filter units.  The range of values available is usually limited to 100pF, 500pF and 1000pF, although other values are occasionally encountered.  The working voltage is usually 100V but high voltage versions for mains filtering are also manufactured.


Some versions are available which incorporate ferrite beads.  These are usually manufactured as pi-section filters but other configurations are sometimes found.  All types are available as multiple units.


Labels

PROJECTS 8086 PIN CONFIGURATION 80X86 PROCESSORS TRANSDUCERS 8086 – ARCHITECTURE Hall-Effect Transducers INTEL 8085 OPTICAL MATERIALS BIPOLAR TRANSISTORS INTEL 8255 Optoelectronic Devices Thermistors thevenin's theorem MAXIMUM MODE CONFIGURATION OF 8086 SYSTEM ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMME OF 80X86 PROCESSORS POWER PLANT ENGINEERING PRIME MOVERS 8279 with 8085 MINIMUM MODE CONFIGURATION OF 8086 SYSTEM MISCELLANEOUS DEVICES MODERN ENGINEERING MATERIALS 8085 Processor- Q and A-1 BASIC CONCEPTS OF FLUID MECHANICS OSCILLATORS 8085 Processor- Q and A-2 Features of 8086 PUMPS AND TURBINES 8031/8051 MICROCONTROLLER Chemfet Transducers DIODES FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS METHOD OF STATEMENTS 8279 with 8086 HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING OVERVOLATGES AND INSULATION COORDINATION Thermocouples 8251A to 8086 ARCHITECTURE OF 8031/8051 Angle-Beam Transducers DATA TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS IN 8051/8031 INSTRUCTION SET FOR 8051/8031 INTEL 8279 KEYBOARD AND DISPLAY INTERFACES USING 8279 LOGICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR 8051/8031 Photonic Transducers TECHNOLOGICAL TIPS THREE POINT STARTER 8257 with 8085 ARITHMETIC INSTRUCTIONS IN 8051/8031 LIGHTNING PHENOMENA Photoelectric Detectors Physical Strain Gage Transducers 8259 PROCESSOR APPLICATIONS OF HALL EFFECT BRANCHING INSTRUCTIONS FOR 8051/8031 CPU OF 8031/8051 Capacitive Transducers DECODER Electromagnetic Transducer Hall voltage INTEL 8051 MICROCONTROLLER INTEL 8251A Insulation Resistance Test PINS AND SIGNALS OF 8031/8051 Physical Transducers Resistive Transducer STARTERS Thermocouple Vacuum Gages USART-INTEL 8251A APPLICATIONs OF 8085 MICROPROCESSOR CAPACITANCE Data Transfer Instructions In 8086 Processors EARTH FAULT RELAY ELECTRIC MOTORS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN IN GASES FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET) INTEL 8257 IONIZATION AND DECAY PROCESSES Inductive Transducers Microprocessor and Microcontroller OVER CURRENT RELAY OVER CURRENT RELAY TESTING METHODS PhotoConductive Detectors PhotoVoltaic Detectors Registers Of 8051/8031 Microcontroller Testing Methods ADC INTERFACE AMPLIFIERS APPLICATIONS OF 8259 EARTH ELECTRODE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT TESTING METHODS EARTH FAULT RELAY TESTING METHODS Electricity Ferrodynamic Wattmeter Fiber-Optic Transducers IC TESTER IC TESTER part-2 INTERRUPTS Intravascular imaging transducer LIGHTNING ARRESTERS MEASUREMENT SYSTEM Mechanical imaging transducers Mesh Current-2 Millman's Theorem NEGATIVE FEEDBACK Norton's Polarity Test Potentiometric transducers Ratio Test SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATION SFR OF 8051/8031 SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS Speed Control System 8085 Stepper Motor Control System Winding Resistance Test 20 MVA 6-digits 6-digits 7-segment LEDs 7-segment A-to-D A/D ADC ADVANTAGES OF CORONA ALTERNATOR BY POTIER & ASA METHOD ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER TESTING AUXILIARY TRANSFORMER TESTING METHODS Analog Devices A–D BERNOULLI’S PRINCIPLE BUS BAR BUS BAR TESTING Basic measuring circuits Bernoulli's Equation Bit Manipulation Instruction Buchholz relay test CORONA POWER LOSS CURRENT TRANSFORMER CURRENT TRANSFORMER TESTING Contact resistance test Current to voltage converter DAC INTERFACE DESCRIBE MULTIPLY-EXCITED Digital Storage Oscilloscope Display Driver Circuit E PROMER ELPLUS NT-111 EPROM AND STATIC RAM EXCITED MAGNETIC FIELD Electrical Machines II- Exp NO.1 Energy Meters FACTORS AFFECTING CORONA FLIP FLOPS Fluid Dynamics and Bernoulli's Equation Fluorescence Chemical Transducers Foil Strain Gages HALL EFFECT HIGH VOLTAGE ENGG HV test HYSTERESIS MOTOR Hall co-efficient Hall voltage and Hall Co-efficient High Voltage Insulator Coating Hot-wire anemometer How to Read a Capacitor? IC TESTER part-1 INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS Importance of Hall Effect Insulation resistance check Insulator Coating Knee point Test LEDs LEDs Display Driver LEDs Display Driver Circuit LM35 LOGIC CONTROLLER LPT LPT PORT LPT PORT EXPANDER LPT PORT LPT PORT EXTENDER Life Gone? MAGNETIC FIELD MAGNETIC FIELD SYSTEMS METHOD OF STATEMENT FOR TRANSFORMER STABILITY TEST METHODS OF REDUCING CORONA EFFECT MULTIPLY-EXCITED MULTIPLY-EXCITED MAGNETIC FIELD SYSTEMS Mesh Current Mesh Current-1 Moving Iron Instruments Multiplexing Network Theorems Node Voltage Method On-No Load And On Load Condition PLC PORT EXTENDER POTIER & ASA METHOD POWER TRANSFORMER POWER TRANSFORMER TESTING POWER TRANSFORMER TESTING METHODS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER Parallel Port EXPANDER Paschen's law Piezoelectric Wave-Propagation Transducers Potential Transformer RADIO INTERFERENCE RECTIFIERS REGULATION OF ALTERNATOR REGULATION OF THREE PHASE ALTERNATOR Read a Capacitor SINGLY-EXCITED SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS Classical gas laws Secondary effects Semiconductor strain gages Speaker Driver Strain Gages Streamer theory Superposition Superposition theorem Swinburne’s Test TMOD TRANSFORMER TESTING METHODS Tape Recorder Three-Phase Wattmeter Transformer Tap Changer Transformer Testing Vector group test Virus Activity Voltage Insulator Coating Voltage To Frequency Converter Voltage to current converter What is analog-to-digital conversion Windows work for Nokia capacitor labels excitation current test magnetic balance voltage to frequency converter wiki electronic frequency converter testing voltage with a multimeter 50 hz voltages voltmeter

Search More Posts

Followers