Introduction

The CL03A104KP3NNNC by Samsung Electro-Mechanics is a surface mount Ceramic: X5R capacitor with a nominal value of 100n, designed for applications requiring tolerance of ±10% and voltage rating of 10V. Housed in a 0201 (0603 Metric) package, the capacitor offers certain advantages and limitations when compared to its statistical benchmarks.

For this review, we will be specifically analyzing the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor's performance regarding capacitance, series resistance, and dissipation and quality factors, as well as conducting a comparative analysis with benchmark data.

• Pros:
• Performs fairly well at higher test frequencies.
• Lower series resistance when compared to benchmark data.
• Cons:
• Poor performance at lower test frequencies when compared to its benchmark.
• Lower series capacitance values observed compared to statistical benchmarks.
• Fluctuating dissipation and quality factors are lower than the ideal values.

This review aims to assist engineers in determining whether the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor is an optimal choice for their applications by highlighting its strengths and limitations based on test data at 1 Volt and 10 Volts. Recommendations will be provided based on detailed comparison and analysis.

Impedance

An in-depth analysis of the Samsung Electro-Mechanics CL03A104KP3NNNC's impedance performance was conducted, comparing it to the statistical benchmark data. The capacitor's impedance was assessed at 1 Volt and 10 Volts, focusing on performance trends at various frequency ranges.

At 1 Volt, the Samsung capacitors exhibited mixed performance when compared to the statistical benchmarks. Specifically, at lower test frequencies (5 - 50Hz), the impedance values were higher compared to the average benchmark, which is generally not a desired attribute in capacitors. Nonetheless, at test frequencies above 50 Hz, the impedance values tended to align within the range of the statistical benchmark, with fluctuations observed between the minimum and maximum benchmark values. It is worth noting that at certain frequencies, such as 10kHz and 20kHz, the capacitor exceeded the benchmark's maximum impedance value, which indicates poorer performance in those instances.

At 10 Volts, a similar pattern emerged, with higher impedance values compared to the average benchmark for the lower frequency range (5 - 50 Hz). This generally indicates suboptimal performance in terms of impedance for these applications. Conversely, in the higher test frequency range (50 Hz and above), the recorded impedance values displayed improvement, as they remained within the benchmark value range, albeit leaning towards the maximum values. Notable exceptions were observed at 50kHz, 75kHz, and 100kHz test frequencies, where the Samsung capacitor surpassed the benchmark's average impedance value, indicating better performance in these scenarios.

The collected data suggests that the Samsung CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor exhibits relatively variable performance with regards to its impedance values, when compared to the statistical benchmark. This variability is additionally marked by deviations at higher test frequencies. A thorough evaluation and analysis of individual application requirements should be performed to gain a better understanding of the suitability of this specific capacitor for different deployments, ensuring that the impedance characteristics align with the needs of the intended application.

Capacitance

Upon evaluating the component data against the statistical benchmark data, it is evident that the CL03A104KP3NNNC performs slightly below average at a 1 Volt (1V) bias across multiple test frequencies. For instance, at a test frequency of 5 kHz, the component's nominal capacitance of 100 nF has been measured to be 91.26 nF, which is lower than the benchmark average of 97.93 nF. A more significant discrepancy in performance is observed at higher test frequencies, such as at 50 kHz and 75 kHz, where the measured capacitance falls to 79.15 nF and 75.78 nF, respectively, when compared to the benchmark values of 91.32 nF and 89.59 nF.

Interestingly, the CL03A104KP3NNNC exhibits a different behavior at higher voltage biases, specifically, at 10 Volts (10V). In this case, it performs significantly better, indicating an improved capacitance response at higher voltages. Its capacitance reaches up to 92.7 nF at 100 kHz, which is above the benchmark's average of 88.4 nF. Similarly, this capacitor demonstrates relatively smaller deviations from the benchmark values across a broader range of test frequencies, between 20 kHz and 600 kHz. Furthermore, its capacitance tends to get increasingly closer to the benchmark average as the test frequency increases.

This atypical voltage-dependent capacitance behavior observed in the CL03A104KP3NNNC can be crucial for electronics engineers when selecting capacitors for specific applications, especially in scenarios where voltage fluctuations can be expected. Analyzing the performance characteristics and understanding these deviations from standard benchmark values is key to ensuring the optimal choice of components in electronic designs.

Series Resistance

In this section, we analyze the performance of the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor in terms of its series resistance at two different voltage levels: 1V and 10V. The series resistance significantly affects the performance of capacitors in applications requiring low impedance to pass high-frequency signals. Lower series resistance is preferred for better component performance.

At the 1V test level, the capacitor's series resistance is considerably higher at frequencies of 5Hz and 10Hz, registering 19.84k Ohms and 10.04k Ohms, respectively. These values surpass the statistical benchmark's average values, indicating increased series resistance at lower frequencies. However, as the test frequency increases, the series resistance decreases, and the difference between the component and benchmark narrows. At 50Hz, the capacitor exhibits a series resistance of 2.072k Ohms, which is higher than the benchmark's average but lower than its maximum value. At higher test frequencies, such as 1kHz and 5kHz, the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor's series resistance values of 114.6 Ohms and 25.32 Ohms closely align with the statistical average.

When tested at 10V, the capacitor exhibits increased series resistance compared to the 1V measurements across most test frequencies. This is particularly evident at frequencies below 50Hz, such as the nearly identical value of 10.18k Ohms observed at 10Hz. At higher frequencies, however, the component's performance improves, surpassing the statistical benchmark's average with series resistance values of 20.11 Ohms and 8.624 Ohms at 10kHz and 20kHz, respectively. In general, the series resistance of the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor is higher than the statistical benchmark's average or minimum values across the entire frequency range. Nevertheless, it manages to outperform the maximum value in several cases, indicating that this capacitor may possess competitive characteristics in specific operational conditions where low series resistance is crucial for optimal performance.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

In this section, we will discuss the performance of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' CL03A104KP3NNNC Capacitor, with a focus on its Dissipation Factor (Df) and Quality Factor (Q). Gaining a better understanding of these factors will assist electronics engineers in determining whether this X5R capacitor is suitable for their specific circuits and designs.

Upon analyzing the available data, we find that the CL03A104KP3NNNC Capacitor's Df ranges between 0.040 and 0.112 when tested at a 10 Volt DC bias. These relatively low values indicate that the capacitor is likely suitable for a wide assortment of applications. However, it is essential to note that the Df appears to increase as the test frequency rises, suggesting that the capacitor may not deliver its best performance in high-frequency applications.

Quality is a crucial characteristic of capacitors, which is evaluated using the Quality Factor or 'Q.' The CL03A104KP3NNNC Capacitor exhibits Q factors ranging from 8.90 to 32.36, with higher Q factors observed at lower test frequencies. As test frequencies increase, the Q factors decline, implying that the capacitor may not be ideal for high-frequency applications, consistent with the observations made for Df.

While assessing a capacitor's performance, electronics engineers should be aware of the relationship between the Dissipation Factor (Df) and Quality Factor (Q). For the CL03A104KP3NNNC Capacitor, its low Df and high Q suggest that it could be an excellent choice for various design applications. However, it is vital to consider the capacitor's fluctuating performance at higher frequencies when making design decisions.

In summary, when evaluating the CL03A104KP3NNNC Capacitor for potential use in their designs, electronics engineers must weigh the advantages of its low Df and high Q factors against the potential challenges posed by its changing performance at increased frequencies. Ultimately, the goal is to make informed decisions that are best suited for the specific application requirements.

Comparative Analysis

Conclusion

In this technical review, we analyzed and compared the performance of the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor, manufactured by Samsung Electro-Mechanics, against a comprehensive statistical benchmark of similar components. Our analysis thoroughly examined aspects such as impedance, capacitance, series resistance, dissipation factor, and quality factor to provide a holistic understanding of the capacitor's performance.

Upon evaluation of the gathered data, it can be concluded that the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor provides satisfactory performance for certain parameters, especially when operated at lower test frequencies. However, certain deviations and inconsistencies in the measurements have been identified when comparing the impedance, series resistance, and series capacitance values at higher test frequencies. Some of these deviations point to poorer performance metrics when compared to the average benchmark values.

Perhaps most notable is the increasing trend of the dissipation factor in most of the measured test frequencies, which eventually exceeded the maximum benchmark values at specific test frequencies. As the dissipation factor correlates to the energy dissipation of a capacitor, this is a critical aspect to consider when deciding whether to use this component or not. In addition, the quality factor of the CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor showcased varying degrees of fluctuations, indicating a degree of instability in certain aspects of its overall performance.

In summary, while the Samsung Electro-Mechanics CL03A104KP3NNNC capacitor offers a commendable performance for some parameters, its inconsistences in dissipation factor, quality factor, and other parameters may need further evaluation and comparison with alternative capacitors available in the market for specific applications. Electronics engineers considering the use of this Ceramic: X5R capacitor should weigh the importance of its performance deviations against their specific requirements and decide if the capacitor can meet their demands efficiently and effectively.