Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

More Bang for the Buck

 Aluminum Electrolytic
Advantage
 The high value capacitor choice
 Typically last more than 10 years
 Lowest cost dielectric for high capacitance
and energy storage
 4 to 10 times the capacitance per dollar of
film capacitors
 Great for power electronics bus capacitors
to 600 V
Aluminum Electrolytic
Principal Applications
 Power-supply
input capacitors
output capacitors
 Bus capacitors for inverters in
UPS systems
Motor-drives
 Photoflash and Strobe Flash
 Welders
Switching Power Supply
Application
 Linear Power Supply
Application
 Transformer steps 120 Vrms down to 12.6 Vrms
 12.6 Vrms AC voltage is 35.6 V peak to peak
 Fullwave rectified voltage is 0 to 16.4 V
 Add 200 µF capacitor: filtered voltage is 16 V
with ±0.4 V ripple voltage.
Ripple Current is King
 Ripple is from rectification and switching
 Ripple current heats the capacitor (blue peaks below)
 Higher temperature shortens capacitor life
 But operating life claims and calculation methods are not
standardized, so the capacitor maker with the best models,
technology, and technical sales force has an advantage
Temperature Rise
 The temperature rise DT is the thermal
resistance q from the capacitor core to
ambient times the power P
DT = qP = qI2(ESR)
 To lower the temperature rise
lower thermal resistance q
lower power P
Lowering Temperature Rise
 Lower thermal resistance q with
Thermal Pak capacitor construction
 Lower power P with lower ESR from
new electrolytes, separators & foils
 You can lower q with capacitor choice
and cooling with a fan or heatsink
Thermal Pak™
 Compression Design
with extended
cathode, low
thermal resistance
 Better shock and
vibration
 Safety vent can’t be
blocked by tar
 Lighter weight
 Extended Cathode Handles
High Ripple Current

Extended
cathode foil
at right gets
heat out

Double Peg
Potted Compression

Rilled
CDE Expected Life Calculator
 Allows you to predict life with your
operating conditions
 Calculates temperature rise and
expected life for
screw terminal capacitors
snap-in capacitors
 Accurate—Based on extensive thermal
measurements of capacitor materials
The following is a CDE Calculator
Comparison of 550C to DCMC
 Both in 3 inch diameter by 5⅝ long cans
 550C is 3700 µF, 450 V
 DCMC is 5600 µF, 450 V
 Both 20 amps of ripple current at 360 Hz
 Both 25 amps of ripple current at 2 kHz
 Expected lives: 550C about 20 years,
DCMC about 1 year.
http://www.cde.com/calc
Screw Terminal
Capacitor Types
Type 550C, The 105 °C
Inverter Capacitor
Type 550C, The 105 °C
Inverter Capacitor
 Longest life, highest ripple current type
 Standard of comparison
 200 V to 450 V, inverter voltage range
 Compares with UCC LXR Series
 Special specifications, part number
550CExxxx
Type 520C, The 85 °C
Inverter Capacitor
 High value, high ripple current type
 The next step below Type 550C
 200 V to 500 V, inverter voltage range
 > 80% of Type 550C ripple capability
 Compares with UCC RWF Series
Rifa PEH 105 °C
Type 500C, Long-Life
Capacitor
 Twice the life of Type DCMC
 6.3 V to 500 V, wide range
 > 60% of Type 550C ripple capability
 Compares with
CDE Type 3188
Aerovox Type CG
Rifa PEH 169 85 °C
Type DCMC, Best Value
Capacitor
 General purpose, first-choice low cost
 6.3 V to 550 V, widest range
 150% of Type 550C capacitance
 > 40% of Type 550C ripple capability
 Compares with CDE Type 3186
Aerovox Type CGS
UCC U36D Series
Typical Hi-Ripple Lifetimes
4700 µF 450 V Comparison
60 °C, 12 A @ 120 Hz, 400 V

Type Case Size Life Price

(in) (years) (%)
DCMC 3x5⅛ 4.6 100
500C 3x5⅝ 9.5 110
520C 3x5⅝ 23.7 130
550C 3½x5⅝ 48.8 142
The Snap-in Capacitors
 Industry’s widest selection including
 New Type SLPX 85°C, 3000 h, low cost
 New Type SLP 105°C, 3000 h, low cost
 25% smaller Types 380LQ & 381LQ
 25% more ripple Type 381LR, 105°C
 4 & 5 pin Types 382LX and 383LX
 http://www.cde.com/catalog/alum/#snap-in
Type MLP, Flatpack Capacitor
Less than ½ inch tall
20 joules of energy storage
Easy to stack into modules
Easy to heatsink
Great at cold to –55 °C
 Welded seal, flat capacitor can replace
multiple snap-ins in high ripple aps
 New, 450 V. Now available 7.5 to 450 V
 Double the ripple capability with a heatsink
 50-year life with nearly hermetic seal
 MLS with stainless case, 100 year life
Next
 Remember CDE Cornell Dubilier as
your source for aluminum electrolytic
capacitors
 Enjoy the benefits of the life calculator
at http://www.cde/com/calc.htm
 Go to major distributors for CDE Cornell
Dubilier capacitors.