By Mark Harris Friday, 28 April 2023
In this technical review, we will analyze the performance of a ceramic capacitor manufactured by Murata Electronics, with the part number RDEC71E476MWK1H03B, against a statistical benchmark formed from other components with the same nominal value. Ceramic capacitors are widely used in the electronics industry due to their high capacitance density, low cost, and relatively high reliability. This particular capacitor built with X7S composition is designed for through-hole mounting and comes in radial packaging. The capacitor has a nominal value of 47μF, ±20% tolerance, and a voltage rating of 25V.
After conducting various tests, we have collected data to assess its performance in different conditions. We will specifically focus on the following parameters: capacitance, series resistance, dissipation factor, and quality factor. By comparing these parameters with benchmark data, we aim to give circuit design engineers a comprehensive outlook on the suitability of this component in their applications. The performance analysis can be found in the following sections: Capacitance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor, Quality Factor, Comparative Analysis. To have a quick insight into the performance of this capacitor, here is a list of pros and cons deducted from the data analysis:
Pros:The capacitor RDEC71E476MWK1H03B meets the requirements of engineers looking for a ceramic capacitor in a majority of applications. However, some limitations in specific areas may require further consideration while selecting this component for use in high-frequency applications. The detailed analysis of each parameter found in the forthcoming sections will provide a comprehensive understanding of the performance of this capacitor against the benchmark data.
The impedance performance of the Murata Electronics RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor is analyzed and compared to a statistical impedance benchmark for components with the same nominal capacitance value. This comparison is valuable for qualified engineers when evaluating its suitability for integration into their electronic circuits, taking into account specific impedance requirements.
At lower frequencies, such as 5Hz and 10Hz, the capacitor's impedance performance falls within the benchmark range (626 Ohms and 316 Ohms, respectively), showcasing a reasonable performance at these frequency levels. Continuing at 50Hz, 100Hz, and 500Hz, the capacitor's impedance drops below the average impedance for each frequency (69.93, 38.17, and 9.313 Ohms respectively). These lower-than-average impedance values indicate better overall performance, as low impedance is desired in most applications to reduce energy loss and improve efficiency in electronic circuits.
As the frequency increases further, the initially lower-than-average impedance trend is observed to continue up to 100kHz (with a value of 73.37m Ohms). Interestingly, the impedance progressively exceeds the benchmark average beyond 150kHz, reaching values of 70.3m Ohms at 150kHz up to 131.2m Ohms at 1MHz, with the impedance values growing larger at increasing frequency levels.
A similar trend is observed in measurements conducted at 10 Volts, where impedance values are recorded below the average benchmark levels up to 100kHz (67.86m Ohms) and surpass them beyond this frequency. At 1MHz, the impedance reaches a value of 139.85m Ohms.
In summary, the analysis of the impedance performance of the Murata Electronics RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor in comparison to the benchmark data reveals its optimal performance at lower frequencies, with the impedance progressively increasing, reaching higher values at higher frequencies. This characteristic should undoubtedly be taken into account when selecting the appropriate capacitor for specific electronic applications and design requirements to ensure optimal system performance and power efficiency.
At a 1-Volt bias, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor displays superior capacitance values at test frequencies of 5 kHz, 10 kHz, and 75 kHz, with capacitance measurements of 51.15μF, 50.5μF, and 39.94μF, respectively. These values surpass the statistical benchmark's minimum and average series capacitance values at the same frequencies. Nonetheless, the series capacitance values across the other tested frequencies tend to be lower than the benchmark.
When subject to a 10-Volt bias, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor's performance at 50 kHz, 100 kHz, and 500 kHz test frequencies is noteworthy, displaying 64.73μF, 63.51μF, and 51.02μF series capacitance values, respectively. Despite these values, the results still fall short of the benchmark's average values at most other test frequencies. Intriguingly, at a frequency of 150 kHz, the capacitance for this component rises appreciably with values of 116.5μF and 123.9μF at 1 Volt and 10 Volts, respectively. Hence, at the 150 kHz frequency, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor significantly outperforms the statistical benchmark.
Considering its performance at frequencies of 75 kHz and 150 kHz, the Murata Electronics RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor might be an appropriate choice, particularly in applications where a higher capacitance value is desired. However, it exhibits suboptimal performance at other test frequencies when compared to the average benchmarks. The high capacitance values at 75 kHz and 150 kHz can offer advantages in filtering circuits or energy storage applications requiring specific frequency responses. It is essential to consider the desired operating frequencies and the trade-offs in capacitance performance when selecting this component for a design.
Series resistance, or Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), is an important parameter when evaluating the performance of capacitors. Lower ESR values translate to better energy efficiency and reduced losses, which are desirable in many electronic applications. In our analysis of the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor, we have observed how it performs at various test frequencies and voltages.
At low test frequencies (5 and 10 Hz), the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor's series resistance is in line with the average benchmark values. However, as the test frequency increases, ranging from 50 kHz to 500 kHz, the capacitor's ESR stands out, delivering better results than average statistical benchmark values. For instance, at 50 kHz and 1 Volt, the series resistance of this component is 5.636 Ohms, which is quite lower than the average value of 7.675 Ohms, not 3.037 Ohms as previously mentioned. Moving further, at 100 kHz and 1 Volt, the capacitor exhibits a series resistance of 65.94m Ohms, significantly surpassing the benchmark average of 298.3m Ohms.
When observing this capacitor's performance at higher test voltages, such as 10 Volts, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B continues to demonstrate better-than-average series resistance characteristics across most test frequencies. For example, at 50 kHz and 10 Volts, it exhibits a series resistance of 4.093 Ohms, still outperforming the statistical benchmark average of 8.505 Ohms, not 3.62 Ohms.
It is critical to understand how these variations in ESR values can impact the performance and suitability of this capacitor for different applications. Engineers often select capacitors with lower ESR values for scenarios in which high energy efficiency or low power loss is required. Moreover, a lower ESR will typically result in a faster charge and discharge rate of the capacitor, which is favorable in high-frequency and high-current applications. As such, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B appears to be a compelling choice for applications demanding low series resistance capacitors, particularly at those higher frequencies.
In this section, we will investigate the performance of RDEC71E476MWK1H03B in terms of its Dissipation Factor (Df) and Quality Factor (Q) based on the LCR measurements provided. These tests were carried out at 1 Volt and 10 Volts across various test frequencies. We will compare these results with statistical benchmark data obtained from other Ceramic: X7S capacitors with similar values to understand if there's any potential area for improvement.
At 1 Volt, the Dissipation Factor ranges from 0.042 to 7.625. A lower Df indicates less power loss; therefore, the best performance occurs at 1 kHz (Df=0.042), while the worst performance is displayed at 150 kHz (Df=7.625). Comparatively, when analyzed against the statistical benchmark, the capacitor exhibits a relatively high Df across the entire frequency range. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that the significantly low Df at 1 kHz suggests that the capacitor could be better suited for lower frequency applications in this voltage range.
Considering the Quality Factor at 1 Volt, the capacitor shows a range from 0.06 to 23.49. A higher Q denotes a more efficient capacitor, which is achieved at 1 kHz (Q=23.49). Meanwhile, the lowest Q is recorded at 200 kHz (Q=0.06). This again suggests that the capacitor tends to perform well in terms of Quality Factor in lower frequency ranges at 1 Volt.
When tested at 10 Volts, the Dissipation Factor ranges from 0.011 to 7.207. The best performance is displayed at 5 kHz (Df=0.011), whereas the least favorable result is observed at 150 kHz (Df=7.207). In comparison with the statistical benchmark, the capacitor's Df performance seems to improve at 10 Volts. The low Df at 5 kHz further demonstrates the component's suitability for lower frequency applications within this voltage range.
As for the Quality Factor at 10 Volts, it ranges from 0.09 to 89.58. The maximum Q is observed at 5 kHz (Q=89.58), while the minimum Q is at 200 kHz (Q=0.09). Once again, the capacitor accentuates its strong performance in lower frequency ranges at 10 Volts, indicating good engineering decisions were implemented for specific applications within these operational conditions.
Murata Electronics' RDEC71E476MWK1H03B is a Ceramic X7S capacitor with a nominal capacitance of 47μF, a tolerance of ±20%, and a voltage rating of 25V. In this comparative analysis, the performance of the capacitor is evaluated against a statistical benchmark created from components with the same value. This rigorous assessment will provide engineers with valuable insights for determining the suitability of this capacitor in their circuits.
At 1 Volt, the component's impedance ranges from 3.195 Ohms at 1 kHz to 626 Ohms at 5 Hz, compared to the benchmark's average impedance, which ranges from 4.046 Ohms at 1 kHz to 656.9 Ohms at 5 Hz. This represents a generally improved performance in this aspect. However, the component's dissipation factor varies from 0.01 at 5 kHz to 2.044 at 100 kHz, while the benchmark ranges from a minimum of 0.01 to a maximum of 9.64, indicating a mixed performance as the component performs better at lower frequencies but worse at higher frequencies compared to the benchmark.
Similar observations can be made for quality factor and series resistance. The RDEC71E476MWK1H03B performs better than the benchmark in terms of quality factor for the lower frequency range; on the other hand, its quality factor dips below the benchmark in the higher frequency range. In terms of series resistance, the component outperforms the benchmark at lower frequencies, while the benchmark takes the lead at higher frequencies.
When LCR measurements are taken at 10 Volts, the component still maintains a similar trend of impedance values as observed in the 1 Volt analysis, performing better in the lower frequency range and deteriorating somewhat in the higher frequency range. The dissipation factor and quality factor follow a similar pattern as before, better in the lower frequencies and worse in the higher frequencies compared to the benchmark. Series resistance follows the same trend as the 1 Volt analysis, with the component performing better at lower frequencies while falling behind at higher frequencies.
In conclusion, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor from Murata Electronics demonstrates mixed performance when compared to the statistical benchmark. It showcases better performance at lower frequencies but tends to fall short of the benchmark at higher frequencies. Engineers should carefully assess whether this capacitor's performance aligns with their specific circuit requirements and design considerations. However, considering the trends observed, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B capacitor would be better suited for applications that primarily operate in the lower frequency range.
The performance of Murata Electronics' RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor Ceramic: X7S has been thoroughly analyzed against the statistical benchmark to evaluate the component's efficiency for use in circuits.
Comparisons between the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B and the statistical benchmark observed the tested component impedance, dissipation factor, and quality factor at varying test frequencies. In the majority of cases, the capacitor mostly showed a consistent performance within the benchmark range, with occasional marginal exceedances for measurements such as the impedance and dissipation factor at certain test frequencies.
LCR measurements at both 1 Volt and 10 Volts revealed that the capacitor functions with reasonable efficiency in different voltage settings. This characteristic showcases the versatility of the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor and its suitability for use in a variety of applications and environments.
In conclusion, the Murata Electronics RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor Ceramic: X7S is a reputable and reliable component that offers a consistent performance, falling within benchmark ranges. With its adaptability to various voltage settings and its compatibility with numerous applications, the RDEC71E476MWK1H03B Capacitor can be considered a viable choice for circuit engineers as they move forward with design decisions.