Reviews & Analysis

Understanding the Performance of Murata Electronics' GRM033C71A104KE14D X7S Ceramic Capacitor

By Mark Harris Friday, 17 March 2023

Explore our thorough performance analysis of Murata Electronics' GRM033C71A104KE14D X7S ceramic capacitor. Understand key characteristics, such as impedance, capacitance, series resistance, and more, to make the best decision for your circuit design requirements.

Introduction

The Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D, a 100nF, X7S ceramic capacitor, is analyzed and compared to a benchmark dataset derived from other components of the same nominal value. This review aims to guide engineers in assessing the suitability of this capacitor for their circuit applications.

The GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor is a surface mount component with a package size of 0201 (0603 Metric) and a voltage rating of 10V. The LCR measurements were conducted at 1 and 10 Volts across various test frequencies to capture a comprehensive understanding of the capacitor's performance.

Pros:
  • Wide range of test frequencies permits analysing performance variations
  • Voltage rating of 10V suitable for most common applications
  • Compact size providing high-density packaging and space saving
Cons:
  • Some aspects, such as Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor, may not meet benchmarks
  • Detailed performance data, such as Self Resonance Frequency (SRF) or impedance at high frequency, is not available

In the following sections, we will dive into specific parameters such as Capacitance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor, and Quality Factor to compare the GRM033C71A104KE14D against the benchmark data.

Impedance

The performance of the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D 100n capacitor was meticulously assessed against the impedance statistical benchmark at two different voltages, 1 Volt and 10 Volts. Impedance is a critical parameter that engineers consider when evaluating this capacitor for potential applications, as it affects the overall performance of the electronic circuit.

Comparing the GRM033C71A104KE14D LCR measurements at 1 Volt reveals its impedance behavior across a range of test frequencies. For instance, at a low frequency of 5 Hz, the GRM033C71A104KE14D showed an impedance of 295.3k Ohms, which is considerably lower than the statistical benchmark average of 313.4k Ohms. At higher test frequencies, such as 50 Hz, the capacitor delivered an impedance measurement of 29.99k Ohms, notably lower than the benchmark average of 31.67k Ohms. Similarly, at a frequency of 1 kHz, it exhibited 1.535k Ohms of impedance, outperforming the benchmark average value of 1.61k Ohms. This superior performance of the GRM033C71A104KE14D is visible across a wide frequency spectrum.

Investigating the impedance discrepancies at 10 Volts, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor displayed an increase in resistance in comparison to the 1 Volt test, as expected due to the influence of increased voltage. At a low frequency of 5 Hz, the impedance reached 406.5k Ohms, and the capacitor maintained its superior performance at higher frequencies, such as 50 Hz (40.45k Ohms) and 1 kHz (2.026k Ohms).

Even with the expected increment in impedance as the test voltage is elevated from 1 Volt to 10 Volts, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor manages to maintain superior performance compared to the statistical benchmarks. Engineers evaluating this component will likely appreciate its exceptional impedance characteristics, owing to its consistently lower impedance values as compared to the established benchmark data. In various applications where high capacitance density and robustness are crucial, the GRM033C71A104KE14D demonstrates potential advantages, making it a valuable choice for electronic design.

Capacitance

In our assessment of the component's capacitance, we carried out LCR measurements at two different voltage levels: 1 Volt and 10 Volts. Our detailed analysis delves into Series Capacitance performance at various test frequencies ranging from 5 Hz to 100 kHz.

At 1 Volt, the component demonstrates superior Series Capacitance at low test frequencies (5 Hz to 1 kHz) as compared to the average values of the statistical benchmark. For example, at 5 Hz, the test value of the component stands at 108.2nF, which surpasses the benchmark average of 101.8nF. This favorable trend continues up to 50 kHz, with the Series Capacitance value of 89.6nF excelling the benchmark average of 91.32nF.

However, the GRM033C71A104KE14D's capacitance performance declines at frequencies above 75 kHz. At 100 kHz, the component's Series Capacitance value drops to 82.89nF, whereas the benchmark average is higher at 88.4nF.

Switching over to LCR measurements taken at 10 Volts reveals a varied performance in Series Capacitance. Comparing the results to the 1 Volt data, we observe a generally weaker performance across most frequencies. Despite showing improved Series Capacitance values at specific frequencies such as 10 kHz, 20 kHz, 50 kHz, and 75 kHz, the component's performance is notably inconsistent throughout the entire test frequency range.

When choosing components for an electronic design, it is essential to consider factors such as capacitance, stability, and consistency across different operating frequencies and voltage levels. In this context, the capacitance performance results of the GRM033C71A104KE14D could impact the component's suitability for certain applications, particularly those that require consistency of performance across a wide range of frequencies.

Series Resistance

In this section, we analyze the series resistance performance of the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor. The component was tested at both 1V and 10V at various test frequencies. To provide valuable insights into its suitability for use in engineering circuits, we will compare the obtained results against the provided statistical benchmark data of other components with the same nominal value.

At 1V, our GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor exhibits high series resistance values at lower frequencies; the values being 13.79k at 5 Hz and 6.745k at 10 Hz. Comparing these to the benchmark average at these two respective points (8.751k and 4.329k) reveals a performance below average. However, the capacitor fares better as frequency increases. The series resistance values become 1.335k at 50 Hz, 685.1 Ohms at 100 Hz, and 76.23 Ohms at 1 kHz, which are noticeably lower than the statistical benchmark averages of 865 Ohms, 444.7 Ohms, and 46.51 Ohms, respectively.

Upon conducting identical tests at 10V, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor exhibits increased series resistance values compared to the measurements at 1V. At 5 Hz, its resistance is 23.49k and 8.419k at 10 Hz - a relatively weaker performance compared to the benchmark. At higher frequencies, the difference between the benchmark average and the capacitor series resistance becomes more pronounced, implying that the higher voltage indeed affects the resistance value. However, the capacitor performs better than the benchmark averages from 50 Hz to 1 MHz. The resistance values are 1.303k at 50 Hz, 726.2 Ohms at 100 Hz, and 111.7m Ohms at 1 MHz, which are better than the benchmark comparisons.

Overall, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor's series resistance performance is lower compared to the statistical benchmarks at lower frequencies. However, the capacitor outperforms the benchmarks once the frequency reaches a higher range. Engineers evaluating the component for their circuits should consider its series resistance performance to ensure its suitability for their specific applications, keeping in mind the potential impact of voltage on the resistance values and the performance of the capacitor in circuit designs requiring reduced series resistance at their operating frequency.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

In this section, we will examine the Dissipation Factor (Df) and Quality Factor (Q) of the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D Capacitor in detail. The performance of these parameters at various voltages and frequencies play crucial roles in several applications and can help determine the suitability of this capacitor for specific use cases.

At 1 Volt, the capacitor has a starting Df of 0.047 and a Q factor of 21.33 at 5 Hz. Upon reaching 100 kHz, the Df increases to 0.071, accompanied by a reduced Q value of 14.05. At its highest test frequency of 1 MHz, the Df is observed to be 0.048 while supporting a Q factor of 20.85. Comparing this data with common industry benchmarks, it is evident that the Df for this capacitor maintains relatively low values throughout the frequency range, which is advantageous in applications requiring low power loss.

While operating at 10 Volts, our quality factor analysis reveals an increasing trend from 5 Hz (Q: 49.88) to 50 Hz (Q: 32.83), followed by a dwindling path reaching as low as Q: 9.99 at 500 kHz. Notably, the Df fluctuates between 0.031 and 0.104 throughout the 10 Volts domain. It is crucial to note that higher Q values represent lower energy losses in capacitors for a given frequency.

Overall, the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor exhibits commendable low Df values, particularly when tested at 1 Volt, making it well-suited for low power loss applications. However, its Quality Factor performance is mixed; therefore, depending on the desired frequency range and specific application requirements, it may not be ideal for some exacting high-Q applications.

In summary, understanding and assessing the performance of the Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor across various test conditions provides valuable insights into the potential use cases of the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor. A comprehensive exploration of these parameters is essential to select the right capacitor for any given application, ensuring optimized performance and reliability over time.

Comparative Analysis

Upon analyzing the performance of the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D, a 100n ceramic X7S capacitor, we evaluated the LCR measurements at 1 and 10 volts and compared these values to our statistical benchmark. The comparison offered valuable insights for electronics engineers assessing the capacitor's applicability in their circuits.

Considering the 1 volt rating, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor exhibited slightly lower impedance values at most test frequencies compared to the average impedance of the statistical benchmark. It performed marginally better at the lower test frequencies, with the impedance values becoming more similar as the test frequencies increased.

In terms of dissipation factor, it was evident that the GRM033C71A104KE14D and statistical benchmark followed a similar trend and possessed a relatively close range throughout the entire frequency spectrum. However, it is noteworthy that the component's average dissipation factor remains slightly higher in comparison to the statistical benchmark, which might be an area of concern for efficiency-conscious applications.

When comparing the quality factor, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor demonstrated values lower than the statistical benchmark at all test frequencies, implying marginally reduced efficiency. Moreover, similar trends were observed for both series resistance and series capacitance measurements.

Moving on to the LCR measurements at 10 volts, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor showcased higher impedance values than the average impedance of the statistical benchmark at all testing frequencies. The most significant differences were observed at lower frequencies, with the values becoming more comparable as the test frequency increased.

Concerning dissipation factor, the GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor maintained a marginally higher average compared to the statistical benchmark, consistent with the results from the 1-volt testing. Furthermore, the quality factor demonstrated a continuing trend of lower values compared to the benchmark counterparts, elaborating upon the areas of improvement for this component.

In conclusion, the Murata Electronics GRM033C71A104KE14D capacitor's specifically oriented performance provides distinct advantages and areas to be improved compared to the statistical benchmark. Electronics engineers contemplating the use of this component in their designs should take these observations into account, ensuring the capacitor's relevent aspects are aligned with their efficiency, impedance, and performance requirements.

Conclusion

In this in-depth review, we have closely examined the performance of Murata Electronics' GRM033C71A104KE14D Capacitor and juxtaposed it with the provided statistical benchmarks. This ceramic capacitor, rated at 100 nF with a tolerance of ±10%, has exhibited unique characteristics and performance metrics that are crucial for electronics engineers assessing its applicability for their circuits.

Upon comparing the component's data with the statistical benchmark, we noticed significant differences in the impedance and dissipation factor values, with notable occurrences at test frequencies of 5 kHz, 20 kHz, and 150 kHz. Additionally, disparities in series resistance and capacitance were observed at diverse test frequencies ranging from 5 kHz to 1 MHz.

However, it is important to consider that some of these discrepancies may originate from the component's mounting type (Surface Mount), package (0201, 0603 Metric), and voltage ratings. Nonetheless, in some test scenarios, the GRM033C71A104KE14D Capacitor has demonstrated comparable, if not superior performance metrics than the statistical benchmarks.

Ultimately, the choice of capacitor for a specific application is a complex process that relies on carefully weighing trade-offs and matching the requirements of the intended operating environment. By considering this transparent and insightful analysis, engineers can make informed decisions about the suitability of Murata Electronics' GRM033C71A104KE14D Capacitor – particularly when working within the realms of Ceramic: X7S compositions and part number specific constraints.

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