Performance Insights on Samsung Electro-Mechanics' CL21X475KAQNNNE X6S Ceramic Capacitor
By Mark Harris Wednesday, 1 February 2023
Introduction
The Samsung Electro-Mechanics CL21X475KAQNNNE (part number CL21X475KAQNNNE) is a ceramic capacitor designed for surface mount in the 0805 package. Its type is Ceramic: X6S and it has a nominal value of 4.7μF and a ±10% tolerance. Its voltage rating is 25V. As capacitor performance is important for determining the appropriateness of its application, this technical review carefully scrutinizes the performance of the CL21X475KAQNNNE in comparison to the statistical benchmark formed by other components of the same value.
Pros:- High quality factor at select frequencies
- Good voltage rating (25V)
- Fit for surface mount applications (0805 package)
- Not optimal performance at high frequencies
- Uncertainties in the data around the 750 kHz to 1 MHz range
- Variability in capacitance values
Impedance
When analyzing the impedance measurements of the CL21X475KAQNNNE at 1 Volt and comparing it against the benchmark data at various test frequencies, some notable trends emerge. At frequencies below 50kHz, the capacitor demonstrates consistently higher impedance values compared to the average benchmark measurements. For instance, at 5kHz, the Samsung capacitor exhibits an impedance of 7.612 Ohms, slightly lower than the average impedance found in the benchmark of 7.722 Ohms. As the frequency increases, the impedance results for the Samsung capacitor remain consistently above average yet still fitting well within the maximum impedance values observed in the benchmark.
When evaluating frequencies above 50kHz, the Samsung capacitor displays impedance measurements that align with or fall below the statistical benchmark values. Notably, at 100kHz, the Samsung capacitor has an impedance of 433.7m Ohms, compared to the benchmark average of 492m Ohms. Similarly, at 1MHz, the Samsung capacitor's impedance is 100.8m Ohms, significantly lower than the 169.5m Ohms observed from the benchmark average. This indicates that the Samsung capacitor performs well at higher frequency ranges.
Continuing to assess the 10 Volt LCR measurements, the impedance data of the capacitor shows comparable trends to the aforementioned 1 Volt results, when juxtaposed with the benchmark values. For frequencies below 50kHz, the Samsung capacitor impedance values persistently exceed the benchmark average values. Conversely, for frequencies above 50kHz, the impedance performance demonstrates competitive results, aligning with or falling below the average values of the statistical benchmark. This consistency reinforces the capacitor's effective performance in various applications operating at higher frequency ranges.
Capacitance
The Samsung Electro-Mechanics CL21X475KAQNNNE has a nominal capacitance value of 4.7μF with a tolerance of ±10%. To evaluate its capacitance performance, it is crucial to compare the component data against a statistical benchmark derived from data of other components within the same value range. The test frequency plays a vital role in determining the capacitance performance of this component.
At 1 V, the CL21X475KAQNNNE has a measured series capacitance ranging between 5.805μF (5 kHz) and 4.456μF (1 MHz). When comparing these values to the statistical benchmark data, the Samsung capacitor demonstrates above-average performance across the entire test frequency range. However, the capacitor exhibits a deviation from the average capacitance values as the test frequency increases, reaching up to 6.372μF at 300 kHz and 15.48μF at 500 kHz, which might be a concern in high-frequency applications.
At 10 V, a similar trend is observed where the CL21X475KAQNNNE's measured series capacitance stays above average for frequencies up to 300 kHz. Furthermore, the performance at higher frequencies shows an improvement, as the values approach average levels at 600 kHz (4.228μF) and 700 kHz (4.544μF), which indicates better stability at higher voltages in high-frequency applications. However, capacitance measurements were not provided for frequencies above 750 kHz at 10V, which limits our analysis within that range.
The Samsung CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor demonstrates good performance within the specified tolerance and generally maintains above-average capacitance, particularly at lower frequencies. While the deviation at higher frequencies at 1 V may pose problems for certain applications, the component exhibits better stability at 10 V. This capacitor may be suitable for engineers seeking consistent performance across a broad frequency range, especially when considering its other specifications and attributes.
Series Resistance
When analyzing the series resistance performance of the test capacitor, specifically the CL21X475KAQNNNE, we must consider the comparison with the statistical benchmark data. This capacitor demonstrates varying performance across test frequencies from 5Hz to 1MHz, although its values generally fall within the benchmark-defined range, with some deviations primarily at higher test frequencies.
For test frequencies of 5Hz, 10Hz, and 50Hz at 1 Volt, the capacitor exhibits lower series resistance compared to the statistical benchmark. As the test frequencies move from 100Hz to 100kHz, the series resistance values remain around the average benchmarks. However, the capacitor's series resistance values tend to increase above the average benchmarks at higher test frequencies between 150kHz and 1MHz, in some cases approaching the maximum benchmark.
Upon assessing the 10 Volt LCR measurements, there are some changes in the series resistance performance of the CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor. At test frequencies of 5Hz, 10Hz, and 50Hz, the capacitor's series resistance values remain lower than the statistical benchmark. Moreover, the capacitor performs closely to the benchmark's minimum values at test frequencies above 150kHz. Nevertheless, between 75kHz and 600kHz, the series resistance values move above the average and sometimes touch the benchmark's maximum values, especially between 100kHz and 300kHz.
Overall, the CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor's series resistance performance is generally satisfactory when compared to the average values provided by the statistical benchmark. The acceptable range of maximum benchmark values encompass the test capacitor’s performance, which is slightly above average benchmarks in certain test frequencies. It is essential for potential users to evaluate the tendencies of the CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor to deviate from benchmarks at specific frequencies, especially at higher test voltages, in order to determine the component's suitability for their products. Understanding these tendencies allows for better product design and enhanced performance in applications requiring specific series resistance characteristics.
Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor
The CL21X475KAQNNNE's dissipation factor (Df) and quality factor (Q) measurements were conducted at 1 Volt and 10 Volts across a diverse range of frequencies. At the 1 Volt measurement, the Df ranges from 0.068 to 2.638, and the Q-factor varies between 14.71 to 0.38. Comparatively, at the 10 Volts measurement, the Df ranges from 0.053 to 1.675, and the Q-factor lies between 18.94 to 0.59.
When evaluating the CL21X475KAQNNNE's Df and Q-factor performance against industry benchmark data for similar components, it becomes evident that this capacitor displays a comparatively higher Df, particularly at elevated frequencies. A higher dissipation factor may result in increased energy loss and reduced efficiency within time-critical applications that necessitate high frequencies. Nonetheless, the Df and Q values seem competitive and in line with benchmarks within the lower frequency spectrum.
In specific contexts, particularly where low Df and high Q at lower frequency ranges are desirable, the CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor exhibits satisfactory performance. However, for applications involving higher frequencies, this component may not be the optimal choice due to its relatively elevated Df values. Therefore, when deciding whether to use this capacitor, thoroughly assess its suitability based on the specific requirements of the intended circuit application, keeping in mind the potential trade-offs in Df and Q-factor performance.
Comparative Analysis
In this comparative analysis, we will evaluate the performance of the Samsung Electro-Mechanics CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor, a Ceramic: X6S capacitor with a nominal value of 4.7μ and a tolerance of ±10%. This surface-mount capacitor comes in an 0805 (2012 Metric) package and has a voltage rating of 25V. The focus will be on comparing the given component data to the statistical benchmark data for similar capacitors.
First, let us consider the impedance at various test frequencies. For example, at 50 Hz and 1 V, the Samsung CL21X475KAQNNNE exhibits an impedance of 560.6 Ohms, as opposed to the benchmark average impedance value of 638.5 Ohms for the same voltage and frequency. At higher frequencies such as 1 MHz, the component impedance is 100.8m Ohms, which is higher than the benchmark average of 169.5m Ohms at similar conditions. Overall, the Samsung CL21X475KAQNNNE capacitor performs slightly better than the benchmark in terms of impedance at lower frequencies, but worse at higher frequencies.
Next, let us look into the Dissipation Factor (DF), an indicator of energy loss. At various frequencies, the DF of the CL21X475KAQNNNE is within the range of the benchmark values, showing comparable energy loss behavior. For example, at 1 kHz, the DF is 0.059, whereas the benchmark average is 0.04, falling within the minimum and maximum benchmark limits. However, at 1 MHz, our critical frequency, the DF increases to 2.638, which surpasses the maximum benchmark limit of 2.02. This suggests that while the Samsung CL21X475KAQNNNE performs within acceptable ranges at lower frequencies, it displays a higher energy loss at higher frequencies compared to the benchmark.
The Quality Factor (Q) is determined by the ratio of energy stored to energy dissipated, which is a measure of how effectively a capacitor can store energy. The Q values for the Samsung CL21X475KAQNNNE are significantly lower than the benchmark average at lower frequencies, such as 10k and 50k, indicating a higher energy dissipation per cycle. However, at higher frequencies, like 1M, the discrepancy between the Q factor is not considerable, which signifies that the energy-storing performance is similar across test frequencies.
Samsung's CL21X475KAQNNNE has shown mixed results in this comparative analysis by providing comparable impedance and DF values at lower frequencies, while demonstrating increased energy loss at higher frequencies. This capacitor could be suitable for use in lower-frequency products, but high-frequency applications should consider the elevated DF before making a decision.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the performance of the Samsung Electro-Mechanics' CL21X475KAQNNNE Ceramic: X6S Capacitor generally aligns with the statistical benchmark data, making it a suitable choice for applications requiring an 0805 surface mount component with a nominal capacitance value of 4.7μ and a voltage rating of 25V. The impedance, capacitance and dissipation factor figures consistently remain within acceptable ranges when compared to the statistical benchmark.
At lower frequencies, the performance of the CL21X475KAQNNNE Capacitor is commendable, with impedance and series resistance values falling below the benchmark average. However, at higher frequencies, the impedance values diverge from the benchmark average while the dissipation factor increases, resulting in a constant voltage drop. Despite these discrepancies, the overall performance of the capacitor is supported by its quality factor, which falls within typical ranges for most of the frequency bands observed.
In summary, the Samsung Electro-Mechanics' CL21X475KAQNNNE Ceramic: X6S Capacitor offers reliable performance for electronic engineers seeking a dependable surface mount component with steady performance across various frequencies. Nevertheless, consideration should be given to its performance at higher frequencies, where deviations from the benchmark average become more pronounced.
Instruments Used
Rohde & Schwarz LCX200
