Capacitor question

Part Scavenger, Sat Oct 21 2006, 06:36PM

What is it about the construction of some capacitors that causes them to get hot in TC use, while others don't? Does anyone know a good resource about the construciton of pulse capacitors or HV caps? I haven't been able to find anything good.

Thanks,
Part Scavenger
Re: Capacitor question
Colin 99, Sun Oct 22 2006, 01:47AM

Here is a link about Dissapation factor of insulating materials. It's a type of dielectric loss.

It might help.

Link2
Re: Capacitor question
Marko, Sun Oct 22 2006, 11:22AM

All caps get hot when high currents are passed trough their plates.
Caps wich have thicker metal foil instead of metalization layer usually pass better.
Also, already mentioned dielectric loss is very important thing.

Polypropylene (MKP and similar) caps seem to be of lowest dielectric loss compared to other cap types.

Special types of ceramics can be even better performers but they are not very common and cheap.
('normal' ceramics have high losses and terrible temp-co).
Re: Capacitor question
Part Scavenger, Mon Oct 23 2006, 01:29AM

Awesome guys. That got me pointed in the right direction, now I've got lots of material.

Thanks
-Scavenger