Reviews & Analysis

KEMET's C1206C476M8PAC7800: Unveiling the Performance of a 47µF Ceramic X5R Capacitor

By Mark Harris Friday, 21 April 2023

Explore the intricacies and performance of KEMET's C1206C476M8PAC7800, a 47uF ±20% 10V Ceramic X5R Capacitor. The purpose of this article is to provide a technical analysis of this particular component, discussing everything from impedance to its quality factor. Discover what sets this capacitor apart as we delve into topics such as series resistance and comparative analysis.

Introduction

The KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 is a surface mount ceramic capacitor with an X5R temperature characteristic, a nominal capacitance of 47 μF, and a voltage rating of 10V. The component is housed in a 1206 package, designed for applications requiring a high-capacity capacitor in a relatively small footprint. In this review, we will compare the performance of the C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor to the statistical benchmark formed from other components of the same value.

Pros:

  • High nominal capacitance of 47 μF
  • Compact 1206 package ideal for limited space applications
  • X5R temperature characteristic performs well in a wide range of applications

Cons:

  • Higher impedance at lower test frequencies compared to the benchmark
  • Dissipation factor may not be ideal for high-frequency applications
  • Sporadic performance in some frequency ranges

Impedance

Upon analyzing the impedance performance of the component and comparing it to the statistical benchmark, it is evident that it exhibits moderately high impedance values at the lower frequencies. For instance, at 1 Volt and 5 Hz, the impedance is recorded at 672.5 Ohms, noticeably higher than the average benchmark impedance value at the same frequency, which is 656.9 Ohms. Similarly, at 10 Hz, the component's impedance is 337.7 Ohms, whereas the average value of the benchmark is 332.8 Ohms.

As the frequency increases, the impedance approaches that of the benchmark with relatively minor discrepancies. At 50 Hz, the component impedance is 70.65 Ohms, compared to the benchmark average of 69.54 Ohms. At an even higher test frequency of 100 Hz, the component demonstrates an impedance value of 36.84 Ohms, slightly above the benchmark average of 35.87 Ohms. These small differences in impedance might not significantly impact general performance for most applications.

However, as the frequency continues to increase from 500 Hz to 1 MHz, the impedance values consistently surpass the average impedance values of the benchmark. This indicates that the component may exhibit a marginally higher resistance to alternating currents (AC) at higher frequencies, potentially affecting its suitability in designing products that require strict impedance control across a broad frequency range.

Moreover, LCR measurements taken at 10 volts across several test frequencies support the assertion that the component exhibits higher impedance values when compared to its respective statistical benchmark at 1 Volt. As a result, it can be concluded that this specific component demonstrates slightly higher impedance than the average of its competitors, especially at lower frequencies and increased voltages. This information is crucial for engineers considering this component for their products, as its impedance performance may directly influence system stability, frequency response, and power efficiency, among other critical aspects.

Capacitance

The analysis involved evaluating LCR measurements collected at two different voltages (1V and 10V) and varying test frequencies from 5Hz to 1MHz. This evaluation aims to provide an understanding of the capacitance behavior of the C1206C476M8PAC7800 under different voltage and frequency conditions in comparison to statistical benchmarks.

Upon comparing the 1V LCR measurements to the statistical benchmark, it becomes evident that the C1206C476M8PAC7800 performs relatively well in the lower frequency range, with values mostly close to or slightly below the average series capacitance at the respective frequencies. However, as the test frequency increases, the deviation from the benchmark average becomes more pronounced, with the capacitance generally trending higher. For instance, at 1MHz, this capacitor exhibits a series capacitance reading of 1.563μ, significantly higher than the benchmark average of 345.5μ. This means that this capacitor tends to exhibit higher capacitance values at higher frequencies under a 1V testing condition.

When evaluating the 10V LCR measurements, the results showcase a different behavior. In this case, at lower frequencies, the C1206C476M8PAC7800 demonstrates a relatively wide variance in performance from the statistical benchmark's average values. For instance, at 10Hz, the measured capacitance is 30.84μ, compared to the benchmark average of 48.14μ. As the test frequency increases towards 100kHz, the measured capacitance approaches the benchmark average, with a 36.5μ reading at 100kHz (compared to the average of 30.1μ). However, at frequencies higher than 100kHz, the capacitance reading begins to significantly and consistently diverge from the benchmark's average, as seen with a measurement of 1.937m at 450kHz, considerably more than the average value of 34.07μ.

Given the test results, it can be concluded that the C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor experiences varied performance, depending on test frequencies and voltage conditions when compared to statistical benchmarks. When determining whether this capacitor is an optimal choice, engineers should consider the aforementioned variations, as well as the application parameters such as voltage level and operational frequency range. It is essential to note that an ideal capacitor for a specific application should exhibit a stable capacitance value over the required operational frequency range to maintain consistent performance.

Series Resistance

When analyzing the series resistance of the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor, at a test voltage of 1V, the capacitor demonstrates a series resistance ranging from 29.23 Ohms at 5kHz to 6.846m Ohms at 1MHz. In comparison to the average statistical benchmark, the series resistance at lower test frequencies (5kHz to 50kHz) falls below the average benchmark values but is consistently higher when compared to the minimum benchmark values. Meanwhile, at test frequencies above 50kHz, the series resistance is significantly lower than both the average and minimum benchmark values, indicating improved efficiency at higher frequencies.

LCR measurements at 10V reveal a similar behavior in the component's performance with a series resistance ranging between 69.25 Ohms at 5kHz and 1.189m Ohms up to 50kHz. As observed at 1V, the series resistance at lower test frequencies (5kHz to 50kHz) remains below average statistical benchmark values but outperforms the minimum values. However, due to incomplete data for frequencies above 50kHz at 10V, it is difficult to draw conclusions for a comparison to the benchmark.

In terms of its series resistance performance, the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor performs notably well in higher frequency ranges where it significantly outperforms both average and minimum statistical benchmarks. This enhancement in performance can result in less power dissipation and reduced losses in high-frequency applications, such as in power supply filters and signal conditioning circuits. However, for lower series resistance at lower test frequencies, alternative options may be necessary to optimize circuit performance, as the KEMET capacitor's performance dips below average benchmarks in these frequency ranges. It is essential to consider the specific application and required frequency range to ensure the optimal performance of the selected capacitor.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

When considering the LCR measurements at 1 Volt, the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor's Dissipation Factor (Df) ranges from 0.021 at 1 kHz to 1.606 at 500 kHz. Meanwhile, the Quality Factor (Q) varies from 0.88 at 1 MHz to 51.14 at 5 kHz. It is observed that, in lower frequencies (up to 100 kHz), the Df performance is reasonably acceptable. However, it deteriorates relatively at higher frequencies which may not be desirable in some applications.

At 10 Volts, the Df values for the KEMET capacitor span from 0.001 at 50 kHz to 0.500 at 450 kHz. Simultaneously, the Quality Factor experiences variations from 15.04 at 5 Hz to 722.41 at 50 kHz. Upon comparison with the benchmark dataset, it can be inferred that the capacitor demonstrates enhanced performance under higher voltage conditions. This observation indicates that an increase in voltage can positively affect both the dissipation and quality characteristics of this particular capacitor.

Upon reviewing the entire dataset, the KEMET capacitor portrays a mixed performance with respect to its Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor. It is worth noting that there are certain areas, particularly at higher voltage levels, where this capacitor outperforms the benchmark data. However, improvements can still be made in the performance at higher frequencies. It is crucial to consider these factors when evaluating whether this capacitor is the most suitable option for any specific applications or projects, as the optimal choice may vary depending on the requirements of the application in question.

Comparative Analysis

In this comparative analysis, we assess the performance of the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor against the given statistical benchmark data. The ceramic X5R capacitor has a nominal value of 47μF with a ±20% tolerance and a 10V voltage rating. It is designed for surface mount applications using the 1206 (3216 Metric) package.

At low test frequencies (5Hz to 50Hz), the C1206C476M8PAC7800 exhibits impedance values well within the benchmark ranges, although its dissipation factors are lower than the average values across these frequencies. This indicates that the capacitor performs relatively well in terms of energy efficiency in low-frequency applications.

As the test frequency increases, the impedance values of the C1206C476M8PAC7800 remain within, or slightly exceed the benchmark ranges, while the dissipation factors start to show improvements. For instance, at 500Hz and 1kHz test frequencies, the capacitor's dissipation factors fall below the minimum benchmark values, signifying better power efficiency. It is important to note that the capacitor's series resistance remains consistent across various frequencies in the tested conditions.

Notably, the C1206C476M8PAC7800's performance deviates from the benchmark data when tested at high frequencies ranging from 400kHz to 1MHz. In this range, the series capacitance values fall outside the benchmark values, and the dissipation factors exhibit a sudden increase then drops to zero and, in certain instances, are undefined (550kHz to 1MHz).

In conclusion, the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 capacitor performs well within the statistical benchmark in low- to mid-frequency ranges, with improved energy efficiency as frequency increases. However, its performance in high-frequency applications (400kHz to 1MHz) exhibits some instability and deviation from the benchmark data. Engineers need to consider these aspects when evaluating this capacitor for use in their products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this review of KEMET's C1206C476M8PAC7800 Capacitor weighted against the statistical benchmark data shows both its strengths and weaknesses. This Ceramic: X5R capacitor, with a nominal value of 47μ, has a performance that varies across different test frequencies.

When comparing the results, it is apparent that the impedance values are higher than average for some of the test frequencies, which may not be suitable for certain applications. The dissipation factor also shows a wider range of values compared to the benchmark data, showcasing a varying performance profile across frequencies. Similarly, the quality factor experiences fluctuations but remains within an acceptable limit for most frequencies.

The series resistance values are generally higher than the benchmark data averages at low test frequencies from 5 Hz to 1 kHz, while they are much lower in the test frequency range of 10 kHz to 300 kHz. The series capacitance revealed similar capacitance values as the benchmark data for higher test frequencies above 100 Hz while exhibiting lower values at low test frequencies.

Overall, the KEMET C1206C476M8PAC7800 Capacitor offers a mixed performance quality, and engineers must assess if it fits their specific application requirements based on the detailed component and benchmark data comparisons provided in this review.

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