Reviews & Analysis

Exploring the Performance of the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G Aluminum-Polymer Capacitor

By Mark Harris Wednesday, 22 February 2023

Dive deep into the performance analysis of the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G, a promising aluminum-polymer capacitor widely utilized in electronic circuits. Our comprehensive technical review covers all aspects of the capacitor's various attributes, including impedance and capacitance, dissipation factor and quality factor. Discover if this component is the perfect fit for your design!

Introduction

In this technical review, we will analyze the performance of the APXG250ARA470MF61G Capacitor, manufactured by United Chemi-Con. The component is an Aluminum - Polymer: Polymer capacitor with a nominal value of 47μF, with a ±20% tolerance, a voltage rating of 25 volts, and designed predominantly for surface mount in radial, can-SMD packaging applications. The assessment will focus on the component data and compare it against the statistical benchmark data of other capacitors with the same value. We will further discuss the pros and cons of this capacitor, thus allowing electronics engineers to assess the applicability of this capacitor for their circuits.

  • Pros:
    • Wide range of available test frequencies ensuring versatility in applications.
    • Generally good Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor at low test frequencies.
    • Performs comparably well against benchmark data at some frequencies.
  • Cons:
    • Performance against benchmark data varies significantly with higher frequencies.
    • Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor tend to degrade at higher frequencies.
    • Slightly high Series Resistance at low frequency ranges when compared to benchmarks.

The next sections of the review will delve into and present a comparative analysis of the APXG250ARA470MF61G Capacitor based on Capacitance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor, and Quality Factor. We will dive into the intricacies of its performance to help electronics engineers make informed decisions.

Impedance

In this analysis of the APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor's impedance, we will examine its performance by comparing it to the statistical benchmark data of capacitors with the same nominal value. Generally, the capacitor's impedance at various test frequencies falls within or relatively close to the statistical benchmark data when operating at 1V. For instance, at 100Hz and 1kHz, the measured impedance values are 40.18 ohms and 4.084 ohms, respectively. These values are only slightly higher than the average impedance values of 35.87 ohms and 4.046 ohms in the benchmark data set. While the impedance at lower frequencies (5Hz and 10Hz) lies at the maximum range of the benchmark, it is still considered an acceptable performance for this type of capacitor.

At 10V, the APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor performance is on par with its 1V measurements as it maintains relatively close impedance values to the statistical benchmarks across a range of frequencies from 50Hz to 1kHz. Nonetheless, the capacitor exhibits a notable increase in impedance when subjected to higher frequency ranges (650kHz to 1MHz). Although the component had approximations for impedance values between 850kHz to 1MHz, the last recorded impedance value at 800kHz was 65.01mΩ, indicating an inconsistency with the benchmark data.

The impedance performance of the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor is, in general, acceptable and within the expected range for most frequency measurements. However, it is important to note the exceptions at the extremely low and high frequency ends of the spectrum. Engineers considering this capacitor for integration into their electronic products should thoroughly evaluate these performance factors to ensure the optimal utilization of this component in their designs, particularly applications involving extreme operating frequencies.

Capacitance

When comparing the performance of the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G Capacitor to the available statistical benchmarks, there are noticeable differences in the capacitance values at various test frequencies. This Aluminum - Polymer Capacitor features a nominal capacitance value of 47μF and a voltage rating of 25V, positioning it as a potential choice among Surface Mount radial capacitors.

At a test voltage of 1V, the Capacitor starts with series capacitance values of 40.66μF and 40.43μF at frequencies of 5Hz and 10Hz, respectively. These values are slightly lower than the minimum capacitances of the benchmark (40.66μ vs. 49.2μ and 40.43μ vs. 48.14μ). However, as the test frequency increases, the performance of the Capacitor shifts, presenting higher capacitance values compared to the benchmark average series capacitance. For instance, at 75kHz and 100kHz, the capacitor showcases 40.47μF and 43.58μF series capacitance, respectively, as opposed to the benchmark values of 30.39μF and 30.1μF.

When subjected to a higher test voltage of 10V, the capacitance behavior of the Capacitor continues to display unique characteristics. For example, at 5kHz, this capacitor reveals a 37.82μF series capacitance compared to the benchmark's average of 38.46μF. As the test frequency increases up to 100kHz, the Capacitor consistently presents shifting series capacitance values in comparison to the benchmark data, such as 42.2μF versus 30.1μF at 100kHz.

In assessing the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G Capacitor's suitability for specific applications, it's crucial to take these distinctions in capacitance performance into account. Engineers should weigh these differences against their particular performance criteria to determine if this capacitor offers an optimal choice relative to their needs. Moreover, understanding the impact of temperature and voltage derating factors on the capacitance values can further assist engineers in selecting the right capacitor for their applications.

Series Resistance

The United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor demonstrates varying series resistance values across different test frequencies, measured at both 1 Volt and 10 Volts. At 1 Volt, the capacitor exhibits a series resistance range from a minimum of 11.16 Ohms at 5 Hz to a maximum of 46.79 milliohms at 1 MHz. Analyzing these results in the context of the benchmark dataset, we note that the capacitor's series resistance values fall below the average benchmarks across the entire range of test frequencies.

However, the capacitor's series resistance values are higher than the minimum benchmark values at the majority of these test frequencies, with the exceptions of the 5 Hz and 10 Hz frequencies. This provides some useful information that, although the capacitor performs below average in general, it exhibits optimal performance at the lowest end of the frequency spectrum, signifying the potential for advantageous use cases in low-frequency applications.

Moving on to the results at 10 Volts, the series resistance values for the capacitor span from a minimum of 41.57 Ohms at 5 Hz to a maximum of 45.14 milliohms at 800 kHz. In comparison with the benchmark dataset, the capacitor's performance continues to remain below the average series resistance across the same test frequencies. However, a notable aspect becomes evident when examining the capacitor's series resistance in test frequencies above 50 kHz: it falls below the minimum benchmark values. This finding suggests that the APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor may offer superior performance in specific applications that require lower series resistance at higher frequencies, presenting potential opportunities for use in particular high-frequency contexts.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

Upon examining the LCR measurements taken at 1 Volt, it is initially evident that the APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor demonstrates a slightly lower dissipation factor (Df) at frequencies up to 100 kHz, while maintaining relative stability. As the frequency increases beyond this point, the Df correspondingly rises, implying a higher power loss in the component. Nevertheless, below 100 kHz, the APXG250ARA470MF61G's Df performs commendably, remaining within a range of 0.012 to 0.021. Such a range highlights proficient performance at low- to mid-frequency levels.

In terms of Quality Factor (Q), the APXG250ARA470MF61G exhibits high values in the benchmark measurements taken up to 100 kHz when tested at 1 Volt. Ranging from 70.32 to 86.07, these high Q values suggest an efficient operation within the specified frequency range. However, a notable decline in Q value is observed at frequencies beyond 100 kHz, indicating a decrease in the capacitor's performance.

When evaluating LCR measurements at 10 Volts, the APXG250ARA470MF61G displays an overall increase in Df compared to the 1 Volt test results. Values range from 0.020 to 0.688 at frequencies between 100 Hz and 100 kHz, implying that the capacitor is sensitive to an increase in applied voltage. Such sensitivity might impact its operation in circuits with voltage fluctuations. Nevertheless, at 50 kHz, the capacitor maintains a relatively low Df value of 0.037.

Similarly, the Quality Factor measured at 10 Volts exhibits mixed performance for the APXG250ARA470MF61G. The capacitor's Q value at frequencies between 100 Hz and 100 kHz ranges from 50.81 to 2.93, representing diminished efficiency in comparison to the benchmark measurements taken at 1 Volt. This change in efficiency may limit the applicability of the capacitor in electronic circuits that are exposed to higher voltages.

Comparative Analysis

The APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor from United Chemi-Con has a nominal capacitance value of 47μF and a voltage rating of 25 Volts. This radial, surface-mount Aluminum - Polymer: Polymer capacitor is measured at 1 Volt across various frequencies and is then compared against the provided statistical benchmark for similar components.

At lower frequencies (5 Hz to 100 Hz), the measured impedance is generally higher than the benchmark average, indicating a slightly poorer performance. However, at 5 Hz, 50 Hz, and 100 Hz, the capacitor exhibits lower dissipation factor values (0.014, 0.012, and 0.012 respectively), suggesting that it has better energy efficiency compared to the benchmark average dissipation factors (0.08, 0.04, and 0.05).

As the frequency increases, the impedance values gradually decrease and share a more comparable performance with the benchmark. For example, at 200 kHz, the measured impedance value is 37.96m Ohms, very close to the benchmark average impedance value of 298.3m Ohms.

In terms of dissipation and quality factors, the capacitor showcases varying performance. While the dissipation factor values are consistently higher compared to the benchmark average, ranging from 0.060 to 4.234, the quality factor values are comparable or even better, as seen at 100 Hz with a quality factor of 86.07 against the benchmark average of 33.10. This indicates that the capacitor might have a more prominent power loss at higher frequencies, but overall energy efficiency is still within acceptable ranges.

When analyzing series resistance values in relation to the benchmark, the capacitor demonstrates a similar trend with frequency as its impedance values. At lower frequencies, series resistance values result in a significant deviation from the benchmark averages. However, as frequency increases, the difference narrows, and the performance becomes comparable with benchmark data.

In summary, the APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor exhibits some deviations from the benchmark average with respect to impedance and series resistance values at lower frequencies. Nevertheless, it demonstrates reasonable energy efficiency and improved performance when compared against the benchmark as the frequency increases. It is advisable to consider the specific requirements applicable to the circuits that this capacitor will be employed in to ensure that it is a suitable choice for the desired purpose. This capacitor may be more appropriate for applications where higher frequencies are present and energy efficiency is a critical factor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G aluminum-polymer capacitor exhibited varied performance characteristics when compared to the statistical benchmark data. This analysis uncovers some noteworthy aspects of this particular capacitor in relation to the performance of other capacitors within the same nominal value and composition category.

Generally, at lower test frequencies (5 Hz to 100 Hz), the impedance, dissipation factor, and quality factor were in line with the statistical benchmark range. However, at higher test frequencies, the impedance tends to be higher than the benchmark average. Similarly, a higher dissipation factor is observed at the higher test frequencies, resulting in a lower quality factor compared to the benchmark data.

Furthermore, series resistance values of APXG250ARA470MF61G were observed to be consistently higher than the statistical benchmark across the entire frequency spectrum. This result, however, should be taken with caution as capacitor manufacturers usually provide only the performance at their rated voltage.

In terms of series capacitance, the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor demonstrated higher capacitance values at lower test voltage scenarios. It is worth mentioning that capacitance values typically increased with increasing test frequency; a common trend seen in capacitors of this type.

Overall, while the United Chemi-Con APXG250ARA470MF61G capacitor shows satisfactory performance at lower test frequencies and voltages, electronics engineers should carefully weigh out potential limitations when considering this capacitor for higher frequency applications. The higher impedance, dissipation factor, and series resistance observed at certain test frequencies may have implications in certain scenarios, which must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Engineers are recommended to conduct further research and testing within their specific design context to ascertain the applicability and suitability of this capacitor for their requirements.

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