How do you determine the voltage rating of an electrolytic capacitor?
Choose ceramic capacitors with a voltage rating of at least 1.5 times the maximum-input voltage. If tantalum capacitors are selected, they should be chosen with a voltage rating of at least twice the maximum-input voltage.
What is the voltage of an electrolytic capacitor?
Comparison of electrolytic capacitor types
| Electrolytic capacitor family | Electrolyte | Max. rated voltage (V) |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum- electrolytic capacitor etched foils | Hybrid, polymer and non-solid | 125 |
| Tantalum electrolytic capacitor, sintered anode | Non-solid, sulfuric acid | 630 |
| Solid, manganese dioxide | 125 | |
| Solid, polymer | 25 |
Why are electrolytic capacitors have higher capacitance per unit?
Due to their very thin dielectric oxide layer and enlarged anode surface, electrolytic capacitors have a much higher capacitance – voltage (CV) product per unit volume than ceramic capacitors or film capacitors, and so can have large capacitance values.
Is it possible to replace an electrolytic capacitor?
Long story short, you can replace an electrolytic cap with another one of the same value but higher voltage rating. Electrolytic capacitors usually have a very lose tolerance to begin with, and with age and heat their capacitance drops a lot.
What should the voltage rating on a capacitor mean?
It is normally recommended to give a good amount of room when choosing the voltage rating of a capacitor. Meaning, if you want a capacitor to hold 25 volts, don’t choose exactly a 25 volt-rated capacitor.
What makes electrolytic capacitors have low ESR?
Several manufacturers have been combining solid and liquid electrolytes to produce hybrid components with ultra-low ESR (low tens of milliohms), with minimal temperature variation, while increasing withstand voltage and accommodating high ripple current.