August 17, 2007

Multidielectric_Coax101_Rev2.1.xls
May 2, 2010. Fixed error in single-dielctric cutoff frequency calculation.
Enter data in the blue boxes only.
This spreadsheet was a gift from Alex R, an engineer at a major connector manufacturer. He
adapted some math we presented on:
http://www.microwaves101.com/encyclopedia/coaxdual.cfm
Go there and check it out of you want to review the math.
Coax impedance is the square-root of the ratio of inductance/length divided by
capacitance/length. The "trick" to doing this calculation is to note that the capacitance of
multiple concentric dielectrics can be easily be calculated by adding their individual
capacitances in series. The coax inductance calculation does not change no matter what
dielectric you put between the center and outer conductors.
This spreadsheet uses feet/inches as the units for length, which is not all that important. If you
prefer the metric system you know the conversion factors by now!
Unknown Editor
Microwaves101.com

Impedance for Coaxial line with 1 dielectric

adapted from: http://www.microwaves101.com/ENCYCLOPEDIA/cOAXdual.cfm

e1
d (in)
D (in)

1
0.02559
0.05866

Zo

49.72

Cutoff
Frequency

89.21

Frequency
(GHz)
0.5
1
3
5
10
25
50

Inches
23606.40
11803.20
3934.40
2360.64
167.40
472.13
236.06

1/4 inches
5901.60
2950.80
983.60
590.16
41.85
118.03
59.02

Impedance for Coaxial line with 2 dielectrics

adapted from: http://www.microwaves101.com/ENCYCLOPEDIA/cOAXdual.cfm

Zo
Fc

49.63
149.73

d
d1
D

0.0126
0.022
0.032

e1
e2

1
2.1

Frequency (GHz) Wavelength (mm) Wavelength (in)

0.5
533.10
20.99
1
266.55
10.49
3
88.85
3.50
5
53.31
2.10
10
26.65
1.05
25
10.66
0.42
50
5.33
0.21
c1
c2

30.38188
94.90356

Ceff
Cair

23.01424
18.16792

Keff

1.266751

Impedance for Coaxial line with 3 dielectrics

adapted from: http://www.microwaves101.com/ENCYCLOPEDIA/cOAXdual.cfm

Fc
Zo

c1
c2
c3

431.7415
31.81623
1085.397

Ceff
Cair

28.84503
14.44219

Keff

1.997275

25.15
49.72

d
d1
d2
D

0.05
0.052
0.159
0.1615

e1
e2
e3

1
2.1
1

Frequency (ghz) Wavelength (mm) Wavelength (in)

0.5
424.55
16.71
1
212.28
8.36
3
70.76
2.79
5
42.46
1.67
10
21.23
0.84
25
8.49
0.33
50
4.25
0.17

Impedance for Coaxial line with 4 dielectrics

adapted from: http://www.microwaves101.com/ENCYCLOPEDIA/cOAXdual.cfm

c1
c2
c3
c4

431.7415
36.70732
152.3999
2888.986

Ceff
Cair

27.42239
15.05268

Keff

1.821761

Zo

49.95

Fc

27.30

d
d1
d2
d3
D

0.05
0.052
0.137
0.1531
0.154

e1
e2
e3
e4

1
2.1
1
1

Frequency (ghz) Wavelength (mm)

0.5
444.53
1
222.27
3
74.09
5
44.45
10
22.23
25
8.89
50
4.45

cs

Wavelength (in)
17.50
8.75
2.92
1.75
0.88
0.35
0.18

Impedance for Coaxial line with 5 dielectrics

adapted from: http://www.microwaves101.com/ENCYCLOPEDIA/cOAXdual.cfm

c1
c2
c3
c4
c5

431.7415
36.70732
152.3999
25933.21
3251.169

Ceff
Cair

27.42239
15.05268

Keff

1.821761

Zo

49.95

Fc

27.30

d
d1
d2
d3
d4
D

0.05
0.052
0.137
0.1531
0.1532
0.154

e1
e2
e3
e4
e5

1
2.1
1
1
1

Frequency (ghz) Wavelength (mm)

0.5
444.53
1
222.27
3
74.09
5
44.45
10
22.23
25
8.89
50
4.45

cs

AXdual.cfm

Wavelength (in)
17.50
8.75
2.92
1.75
0.88
0.35
0.18