Broadcasts.com - "MEP EP#196: Foamy Power Factors - Electrolytic Capacitors with KEMET" (MacroFab Engineering Podcast)

Published: Oct. 30, 2019, 8:16 p.m.

Ivan Quiroz

Over 19 years of electronic design and development experience in different industries ranging from aviation to industrial automation
His technical expertise surrounds the intrinsic requirements and detailed development of circuits
In his down time, he likes to develop escape room puzzles, sensors, and anything he can 3D print

Suzana Jankuloska

Is an electrical engineer from Macedonia
Has been with KEMET for 7 years and as a Product Manager of Electrolytic Capacitors for 3 years
Loves solving problems and sudoku and is a fan of martial arts and the movie Ip Man

Electrolytic Capacitors

Discuss ESR, ESL, Dissipation factor, Tan Delta, Ripple current, and life span
How to read the datasheet for an electrolytic capacitor beyond the value/voltage/dimensions
- impedance at a known switching frequency
Brief introduction to a new type of electrolytic capacitor (polymer)
Link the electrolytic capacitor to the need for a bank capacitors
Signals through electrolytics
Leave on forever vs. multiple inrush cycles preferred for lifetime?
What drifts out of spec first?
The wear-out failure mode is loss of electrolyte
- It is possible to measure this by weighing the capacitor before and after operating it at elevated temperature
- When the capacitor loses a certain amount of weight, it is likely to fail
- In the old days, the rule of thumb was to predict failure at 50% of the initial weight
What's the point of those orange SMD tantalum capacitors?
On large screw terminal caps, are the screws themselves typically intended to carry current, or just to mechanically tie the cap to the mounting surface (bus bar, PCB, etc.)?
- Is it important to use aluminum screws to match materials to avoid corrosion from dissimilar metals in high current applications?