I know digikey lists alot of this information when looking up capacitors.
I know not all datasheets list this information, but when using capacitors in switching power supplies, this information is critical! Coming from an electronics engineering background, I tend to know things like this. In case your wondering, thats what I went to school for. Electronics engineering. Granted its only a 4 year degree, so I know theres a ton more stuff I can learn, But I do know alot.
Crazy thing is, I graduated before the whole AVR/PIC Arduino craze, and those other robotics stuff thats out now. Only thing I learned in school was on 68HC11 and Z80 trainers. What a mess...
I learned if the capacitor doesnt provide the information you need, Then dont buy it. You need a low-ESR high temperature 105C cap for SMPS units. If you want it to last a long time.
The higher the ESR, the hotter the capacitor will run, along with a higher ripple current will be generated within the capacitor leading to more heating.. See where this is going? Now granted this is an EXTREME case scenario and may not always apply. But it is there, and you should be aware of it.
Ever noticed on cheap chinese power supplies, the popped caps always scorched the PCB? Well thats because the ESR of the capacitor was too high causing a thermal runaway condition which ultimately blew the capacitor. That, or the ripple current coming through was too high for the capacitors ESR rating, and ripple rating.
All the caps I look at on digikey, show me hours at rated temperature of life, ESR, ripple current, etc.
I know not all datasheets list this information, but when using capacitors in switching power supplies, this information is critical! Coming from an electronics engineering background, I tend to know things like this. In case your wondering, thats what I went to school for. Electronics engineering. Granted its only a 4 year degree, so I know theres a ton more stuff I can learn, But I do know alot.
Crazy thing is, I graduated before the whole AVR/PIC Arduino craze, and those other robotics stuff thats out now. Only thing I learned in school was on 68HC11 and Z80 trainers. What a mess...
I learned if the capacitor doesnt provide the information you need, Then dont buy it. You need a low-ESR high temperature 105C cap for SMPS units. If you want it to last a long time.
The higher the ESR, the hotter the capacitor will run, along with a higher ripple current will be generated within the capacitor leading to more heating.. See where this is going? Now granted this is an EXTREME case scenario and may not always apply. But it is there, and you should be aware of it. Ever noticed on cheap chinese power supplies, the popped caps always scorched the PCB? Well thats because the ESR of the capacitor was too high causing a thermal runaway condition which ultimately blew the capacitor. That, or the ripple current coming through was too high for the capacitors ESR rating, and ripple rating.
All the caps I look at on digikey, show me hours at rated temperature of life, ESR, ripple current, etc.