Selecting Capacitors Tutorial

Size and shape as well as electrical characteristics must be considered if it is to fit into the available space.
AXIAL capacitors are the same shape as resistors with a wire coming out of each end.
RADIAL ones have both leads coming out of the same end.
Make sure it has the correct lead spacing.
Ensure that the circuit voltages do not exceed the capacitors maximum working voltage.
Electrolytic and tantalum capacitors are polarised and must be fitted the correct way round.

TYPE	RANGE	TOLERANCE	STABILITY	APPLICATIONS
paper silver mica ceramic low loss ceramic high k ceramic monolithic polystyrene polyester polypropylene electrolytic tantalum	10 nF to 10 uF 5 pF to 10 nF 5 pf to 10 nF 5 pF to 1 uF 1 nF to 47 uF 50pF to 0.5 uF 100 pF to 2 uF 1 nF to 100 uF 1uF to 100,000 uF 1 uF to 2000 uF	10% 0.5 % 10 % 20 % 10 % 1 % 5 % 5 % 50 % 5 %	fair excellent good fair good excellent fair fair fair excellent	motor start, mains interference suppression tuned circuits and filters coupling and decoupling " " tuned circuits, timing and filters. general purpose, coupling and decoupling. mains suppression and motor start LF decoupling and smoothing LF coupling, decoupling and timing

<<<< Back to Components Tutorial

Electronic Component Tutorials

Selecting Capacitors Tutorial