Solid polymer electrolytics live longer under load

Nichicon originated the 'Tophat' surface-mount electrolytic capacitor and now has the widest range available, including a new series of solid organic polymer electrolytic capacitors.

Nichicon originated the 'Tophat' surface-mount electrolytic capacitor and now has the widest range available, including a new series of solid organic polymer electrolytic capacitors.

Notable characteristics of these new capacitors are low ESR (25mohm) and high ripple current (3700mA).

Compared with the conventional aluminium electrolytic capacitor, which uses liquid electrolyte, the electrical characteristics of the NA series are extremely stable because 'dry-up' (electrolyte evaporation) does not take place.

This factor enhances considerably the load life.

At 105C load life is equivalent to conventional electrolytic capacitors: 2kh.

However, load life of the solid electrolyte capacitors increases tenfold with every 20C decrease in temperature giving 200kh at 65C compared to 32kh for the liquid electrolyte capacitors.

Resulting from this the NA series are classed as being 'maintenance free'.

Working voltage is 4 to 25V, capacitance range 6.8 to 470mF, tolerance +/-20% and leakage current 66 to 540mA.

Ripple current is 1200 to 3700mA, depending on capacitance and working voltage.

Temperature range of the NA series is -55 to +105C.

The smallest capacitor is only 6.3mm diameter by 6mm long, the largest only 10 x 8mm.

Along with the surface-mount series Nichicon has also developed a range of radial-lead electrolytic capacitors using the same technology of solid organic polymer.

Compared with the surface-mount series the radial-lead capacitors start at a lower rated working voltage of 2.5V, offering a lower ESR (13mohm) and higher ripple current (5200mA).

Working voltage range is 2.5 to 25V, capacitance range 6.8 to 1200mF, tolerance +/-20% and leakage current is 16 to 940mA.

Load life, temperature and size ranges are the same as for the surface-mount series.

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