CAPACITOR

A capacitor is a device that stores electrons. The basic capacitor is made up of

two conductors separated by an insulator, or dielectric. Depending on how the
capacitor is built, the dielectric can be made of paper, plastic, mica, ceramic, glass, a
vacuum or any other such non-conductive material. Capacitor electron storing ability
(its capacitance) is measured Farads. 1 Farad is actually a huge number of electrons
(6,280,000,000,000,000,000 electrons to be exact), so we usually rate capacitor in
microfarads (μF) and picofarads (pF). 1 μF is equal to 0.000001 F and 1 pF is equal
to 0.000000000001 F. Capacitor come in variety of size, shapes, models, or if you so
desire they can be manufactured by your specifications. These also come in variety of
materials, to name few: Aluminum foil, Polypropylene, Polyester (Mylar), Polystyrene,
Polycarbonate, Kraft Paper, Mica, Teflon, Epoxy, Oil filled Electrolyte, Tantalum, and
the list goes on. Latest product (in research) is Niobium. The value of a capacitor can
vary from fraction of pico-Farad to more than a million μFarad (μ means ‘micro’).
Voltage levels come can range from a couple to a substantial couple hundred
thousand volt.

Types of Capacitor

A. Non-polarized Capacitor – non-polar capacitor is a type of capacitor that can

be connected any way in a circuit. In other words, there is no positive or
negative. Common type of non-polar capacitors are ceramics, mica and some
electrolytic. A capacitor stores electric charge. A capacitor is used with a
resistor in a timing circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block DC signals but
pass AC signals.

B. Polarized Capacitor – A capacitor stores electric charge. This type must be

connected the correct way around. A capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing
circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block DC signal but pass AC signal.

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 C. Variable Capacitor – A variable capacitor is a capacitor whose capacitance can
be varied. These are usually made up of one or more moving plates and one
or more non-moving plates separated by the dielectric. By moving the plates,
we can vary the capacitance. A variable capacitor is used in a radio tuner.

D. Trimmer Capacitor – This type of variable capacitor (a trimmer) is operated with

a small screw driver or similar tool. It is designed to be set when the circuit is
made and then left without further adjustment.

Commonly Used Capacitors

Electrolytic – Made of electrolyte, basically conductive salt in solvent.

Aluminum electrodes are used by using a thin oxidation membrane.
Most common type, polarized capacitor. Applications: Ripple filters,
timing circuits. Cheap, readily available, good for storage of charge
(energy). Not very accurate, marginal electrical properties, leakage,
drifting, not suitable for use in hf circuits, available in very small or very
large values in μf. It will explode if the rated voltage is exceeded or
polarity is reversed, so be careful.

Ceramic – Constructed with materials such as titanium acid barium for

dielectric. Internally these capacitors are not constructed as a coil, so
they are well suited for use in high frequency applications. Typically
used to bypass high frequency signals to ground they are shaped like
a disk, available in very small capacitance values and very small sizes.
Together with the electrolytic the most widely available and used
capacitor around. Comes in very small sizes and value, very cheap,
reliable. Subject to drifting depending on ambient temperature.

Polyester Film (Mylar) – This capacitor uses a thin polyester film as a

dielectric. Not as high a tolerance as polypropylene, but cheap,
temperature stable, readily available, widely use. Tolerance is
approximately 5% to 10%. Can be quite large depending on capacity or
rated voltage and so may not be suitable for all applications.

Tantalum – Made of Tantalum Pentoxide. They are electrolytic

capacitors but used with a material called tantalum for the electrodes.
Superior to electrolytic capacitors, excellent temperature and frequency
characteristics. Like, electrolytic, tantalum are polarized so watch the
‘+’ and ‘-‘ indicators. Mostly used in analog signal systems because of
the lack of current-spike-noise. Small size fits anywhere, reliable, most
common values readily available. Expensive, easily damaged by
spikes, large values exists but may be hard to obtain.

Polypropylene – Mainly used when a higher tolerance is needed then

polyester caps can offer. This polypropylene film is the dielectric. Very
little change in capacitance when these capacitors are used in
applications within frequency range 100 kHz. Tolerance is about 1%.
Very small values are available.

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Super Capacitor – The Electric Double Layer capacitor is a real
miracle piece of work. Capacitance is 0.47 Farad (470,000 μF). Despite
the large capacitance value, its physical dimensions are relatively small.
It has a diameter of 21 mm (almost an inch) and a height of 11 mm (1/2
inch). Like other electrolytic the super capacitor is also polarized so
exercise caution in regards to the breakdown voltage. Care must be
taken when using this capacitor. It has such large capacitance that,
without precautions, it would destroy part of a power supply such as the
bridge rectifier, volt regulators, or whatever because of the huge inrush
current at charge. For brief moment, this capacitor acts like a short
circuit when the capacitor is charged. Protection circuitry is a must for
this type.

Polystyrene – Polystyrene is used as a dielectric. Constructed like a

coil inside so not suitable for high frequency applications. Well used in
filter circuits or timing applications using a couple hundred kHz or less.
Electrodes may be reddish of color because copper leaf used or silver
when aluminum is used for electrodes.

Metalized Polyester Film – Dielectric made of Metal-Oxide. Good

quality, low drift, temperature stable. Because the electrodes are thin,
they can be made very small. Good all-around capacitor.

Epoxy – Manufactured using epoxy-based polymers as dielectric.

Widely available. Stable, cheap. Can be quite large depending on
capacity or rated voltage and so may not be suitable for all applications.

Multilayer Ceramic – Dielectric is made up of many layers. Small in

size, very good temperature stability, excellent frequency stable
characteristics. Used in applications to filter or bypass the high
frequency to ground. They don’t have a polarity. Multilayer caps suffer
from high-Q internal (parallel) resonances – generally in the VHF range.
The CK05 style 0.1μF/50V caps for example resonate around 30 MHz.
the effect of this resonance is effectively no apparent capacitance near
the resonant frequency. As with all ceramic capacitors, be careful
bending the legs or spreading them apart to close to the disc body or
they may get damaged.

Silver-Mica – Mica is used as a dielectric. Used in resonance circuits,

frequency filters, and military RF applications. Highly stable, and good
temperature coefficient, excellent for endurance because of their
frequency characteristics, no large values, high voltage types available,
can be expensive but worth the extra dimes.

Adjustable Capacitors – Also called trimmer capacitors or variable

capacitors. Its uses ceramic or plastic as a dielectric. Most of them are
color coded to easily recognize their tunable size. The ceramic type has
the value printed on them. Colors are: yellow (5pF), blue (7pF), green
(30pF), brown (60pF).

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 Tuning or ‘Air-core’ Capacitors – They use the surrounding air as a
dielectric. Mostly used in radio and radar equipment. This type usually
have more (air) capacitors combine (ganged) and so when the
adjustment axel is turned, the capacitance of all of them changes
simultaneously.

Capacitor Reading

Electrolytic Capacitor

Mylar Capacitor reading

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 Ceramic Capacitor reading

Note:
Pico (p) = 10-12
Micro (μ) = 10-6
Kilo (k) = 1000

Capacitor Connection

How to get the total capacitance in How to get the total capacitance in
series? parallel?

1 CT = C1 + C2 + . . .
CT = 1 1
+ + ... From the example
𝐶1 𝐶2
CT = C1 + C2
From the example CT = 10 + 100
CT = 110 μf
1
CT = 1 1 Where:
+ + ... CT = total Capacitance
𝐶1 𝐶2

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 1
CT = 1 1
+
10 100

CT = 9.09 μf

Remember:
If the capacitors are in series
connection, the possible value is less
than the smallest value of the series
capacitors.

NOTE:
In the series capacitance connection, the rated voltage of each capacitor will add to
the total voltage ratings of the total capacitance. For instance, if each capacitor (from
the example) has a rating of 16 volts, the total voltage will be 32 volts, but the
capacitance decreases. The capacitor connection can connect also in series-parallel
(combination of series and parallel).

Capacitor in Series with the Same Capacitance Value

Where C1 = C2 = C3

How to get the total capacitance in series with the same value?

Instead of performing the formula for series capacitance, this is the simple formula for
same capacitance in parallel but same result if you perform the long formula as
discussed earlier.

For two capacitors For three capacitors For more than three
CT = C/2 CT = C/3 CT = C/n

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Where
C = capacitors (equal value)
n = number of capacitors
CT = total capacitance

Examples:

Given: Given: Given:

Two capacitor Three capacitor If more than three capacitor
C = 100 μf C = 330 μf Example: 5 capacitors
C = 1000 μf
CT = C/2 CT = C/3
CT = 100/2 CT = 330/3 CT = C/5
CT = 50 μf CT = 110 μf CT = 1000/5
CT = 200 μf

Capacitor Applications
1. Blocking
2. Coupling and Decoupling
3. Bypassing
4. Frequency Discrimination
5. Timing
6. Transient Voltage Suppression
7. Energy Storage
8. Arc Suppression
9. Power Factor Correction

Capacitor Troubles
Capacitors also display open and short characteristics. The procedure in
checking this trouble is the same as that in other components or devices. However,
since capacitors can store electrical energy, it is possible that leakage may occur
during its operation.

Remember
1. Capacitance is the capability of an electrical device to store electrical energy
for a short period of time so it may be used as a filter in a power supply.

2. A capacitor blocks the flow of DC and allows AC.

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 QUIZ ON CAPACITOR

Instruction: Write your answer in an A4 size bond paper. Write only the answer in
your paper. It can be hand written or computerized. You can submit by sending to my
email address: [email protected] or thru my facebook account (Ted
Muncada) or personal delivery.

Test I. Identify the following:

1. An electronic device that stores electrons.

2. A capacitor shaped like a disk.
3. A capacitor mainly used when a higher tolerance is needed.
4. A capacitor dielectric made of metal-oxide.
5. Unit used in capacitance.
6. What are the capacitor’s trouble?
7. What will happen to the capacitance of the total capacitor if it is connected in
series?
8. A type of capacitor that has polarity and commonly used as filter.
9. A type of capacitor used in tuning circuit.
10. Give at least three electrolytic capacitor standard values.

Test II. Capacitor Reading. Give the value of the following capacitors.

1.

Rated Capacitance: __________ Farad

2.

Rated Capacitance: __________ Farad

3.

Rated Capacitance: __________ Farad

4.

Rated Capacitance: __________ Farad

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 5.

Rated Capacitance: __________ Farad

Test III. Give the total capacitance (CT) of the following connection. Show your
solution.

1.

2.

3.

Prepared by:

THADDEUS L. MUNCADA, MAEd

Asst. Professor I