{"id":860,"date":"2017-08-09T20:57:54","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T00:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/?p=860"},"modified":"2021-06-30T20:54:57","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T00:54:57","slug":"types-of-capacitors-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/types-of-capacitors-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Capacitors: Pros, Cons, &#038; Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Next to the resistor, the capacitor is one of the most common electronic components out there. And, like resistors, there are many different types of capacitors with each one having its pros, cons, and applications that it\u2019s good for.<\/p>\n<p>A while ago, I published a post about several <a href=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/resistor-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">common resistor types<\/a> you\u2019re likely to run into.<\/p>\n<p>This post will be similar in that we\u2019ll take a quick look at the common types of capacitors. Topics like the theory behind capacitors or deciphering their markings will appear in future posts.<\/p>\n<p>The post will give a quick over-view of some of the applications for each type of capacitor<!--more-->, but will not go into great detail about the applications (again, this type of info will appear in future posts).<\/p>\n<p>It will also give the reader an idea of the various common capacitors out there, their strengths and weaknesses, and a quick look at their applications. More exotic capacitor types (such as ultracapacitors and supercapacitors) or rare types will probably pop up in a future article.<\/p>\n<p>This should enable one who\u2019s not totally familiar with the various types of capacitors and their uses to hopefully pick the right one for their application.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I suggest bookmarking this post (and the resistor one) as it will serve as a quick reference for the future.<\/p>\n<p>After all, unless you work for a capacitor manufacturer or have a memory like a steel trap, you may find yourself asking questions like \u2026<em>which capacitor has the tolerance I need?<\/em> \u00a0Or <em>what\u2019s the voltage range of this type of capacitor?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And trust me; you WILL need to use capacitors in your circuits and creations.<\/p>\n<p>Enough said, let\u2019s dive right into the different types of capacitors.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h1><strong>Two Basic Types of Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Like resistors, capacitors come in two basic flavors: fixed and variable.<\/p>\n<p>Both operate on the same basic principles.<\/p>\n<p>A <strong>fixed capacitor<\/strong> is just like it sounds \u2013 its value is fixed and cannot be changed.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the capacitance of a <strong>variable capacitor<\/strong> <em>can<\/em> be changed.<\/p>\n<p>The type of dielectric (insulating material between the plates) used in the capacitor classifies it.<\/p>\n<p>For variable caps, we have air, mica, ceramic, and plastic.<\/p>\n<p>Fixed value capacitors come in mica, ceramic, plastic, metal film, electrolytic, and more types.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start by taking a look at two interesting variable capacitors.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re into working on old radios and other older equipment, you\u2019ve likely run into variable capacitors that use air as the dielectric. These are also known as <strong>air core capacitors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>These work by keeping one set of plates fixed while the other set connects to a rotating shaft. Rotating the shaft varies the effective area of the plates, thus changing the capacitance. The plates are usually made of aluminum to prevent corrosion. Figure 1 shows this type of capacitor.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-862 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Air-Capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"Air core variable capacitor\" width=\"493\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Air-Capacitor.jpg 569w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Air-Capacitor-150x131.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Air-Capacitor-300x262.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 1: old style variable capacitor.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On top, we see the real deal, an actual picture of a variable air core capacitor. The bottom shows a somewhat simplified diagram of how the device works.<\/p>\n<p>These capacitors are very stable over a wide range of temperatures and leakage losses are low. The downside is that they\u2019re big and bulky. Other types of capacitors can achieve the same capacitance in a much smaller package (though they may not be as stable).<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, these types of capacitors are showing up less and less these days due to newer technology and the ever increasing demand to shrink electronics. If you come across one, be sure to grab it, even if just for nostalgia\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n<p>The second common type of variable capacitor often finds its home on circuit boards and is the <strong>trimmer capacitor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>These usually adjust via a small screw which varies the distance between the plates. They\u2019re good for fine-tuning circuits. Use only a non-metallic tool to adjust these types of capacitors because a metal tool can affect the capacitance making it very difficult to get the right value.<\/p>\n<p>Figure 2 sports a picture of a typical trimmer cap. Note that these capacitors can use several different dielectrics, depending on the application. We\u2019ll go into more detail on specific types of dielectrics when we discuss fixed capacitors.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-863 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Trimmer-Capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"Trimmer capacitor\" width=\"493\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Trimmer-Capacitor.jpg 575w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Trimmer-Capacitor-150x129.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Trimmer-Capacitor-300x259.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure2: typical PCB trimmer capacitor.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On top, we can see what it looks like. Note that they are usually smaller than it appears in the picture. The bottom gives you a good idea on how the trimmer works.<\/p>\n<p>Trimmer capacitors usually have values in the picofarad range.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Fixed Value Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2><strong>Types of Capacitors: <\/strong><strong>Mica Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Mica capacitors are composed of thin foil plates (usually aluminum or silver) that are alternately stacked to form the two plates of the cap. A thin layer of mica isolates the plates from each other. The whole shebang is sealed inside a protective casing.<\/p>\n<p>The figure below depicts some typical silver mica capacitors.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Become the Maker you were born to be. Try <a href=\"https:\/\/learnarduinonow.com\">Arduino Academy<\/a> for FREE!<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-4238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"378\" height=\"144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2.png 828w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-300x114.png 300w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-150x57.png 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-768x292.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These caps are very stable and have a good temperature coefficient. The cons are that they usually don\u2019t come in high capacitance values and can be more costly than other types (silver is expensive, ya know).<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll find them in high frequency filters, resonance circuits, and even high voltage circuits. They have good insulation, and therefore are able to operate at higher voltages.<\/p>\n<p>Capacitance values range from 1 \u03c1F to about 0.1 \u00b5F.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 50 V to 500 V.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-864 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Silver-Mica-Capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"Silver mica capacitors\" width=\"393\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Silver-Mica-Capacitor.jpg 466w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Silver-Mica-Capacitor-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Silver-Mica-Capacitor-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 393px) 100vw, 393px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 3: silver mica capacitors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Ceramic Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>These types of capacitors come in two main varieties: single layer and multilayer.<\/p>\n<p>Ceramic caps (along with electrolytic caps) are the most widely available and popular capacitors.<\/p>\n<p>You might be familiar with the small, round, disc-like capacitors found on many PCBs. These are <strong>single layer ceramic capacitors<\/strong> which consist of two plates with a ceramic dielectric in between.<\/p>\n<p>They sport low inductance, so they can find use in high frequency applications.<\/p>\n<p>Using different types of ceramics varies the dielectric constant resulting in several different types of ceramic capacitors.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, they also have varieties (ultrastable or temperature compensating) that are very stable across a range of temperatures. These can last many years.<\/p>\n<p>The semistable single layer ceramic cap isn\u2019t as temperature stable as the above, but it does have a higher capacitance.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the HiK ceramic capacitor has a high dielectric constant (and capacitance), but lacks stability and suffers from a phenomenon known as dielectric absorption.<\/p>\n<p>Single layer ceramic caps have a capacitance range of 1 \u03c1F to 0.1 \u00b5F.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 50 V to 10,000 V.<\/p>\n<p>Figure 4 shows a typical single layer ceramic capacitor.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-865 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-1.jpg\" alt=\"single layer ceramic capacitors\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-1.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 4: single layer ceramic capacitors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like mica caps, many ceramic capacitors consist of several alternating layers of ceramic and metal plates. These are the <strong>multilayer ceramic capacitors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>They meet the demand for high density ceramic caps, and, like the mica caps, have many layers to boost the total capacitance.<\/p>\n<p>They are also compact and have better temperature characteristics than the single layer variety.<\/p>\n<p>Just like the single layer type of capacitor, they come in ultrastable, stable, and HiK varieties.<\/p>\n<p>Their capacitance ranges from 0.25 \u03c1F to 22 \u00b5F depending on the type.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 25 V to 200 V, again depending on the type.<\/p>\n<p>Many surface mount capacitors are multilayer, as we can see in figure 5.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-866 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-2.jpg\" alt=\"multilayer ceramic capacitors\" width=\"320\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-2.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-2-150x88.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-capacitors-2-300x175.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 5: an example of multilayer ceramic capacitors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Electrolytic Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are two main types of electrolytic capacitors: aluminum and tantalum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aluminum electrolytics<\/strong> have a chemical paste (the electrolyte) filling the space between their foil plates. When voltage is applied, a chemical reaction forms a layer of insulating material on the positive plate. Because this film is very thin, they can pack a good amount of capacitance in a small package.<\/p>\n<p>The film and the plates are then rolled into a cylindrical shape before being placed in a protective case.<\/p>\n<p>The chemical reaction also gives these capacitors a polarity that should be carefully observed. They can explode if the rated voltage is exceeded or the polarity is reversed, therefore do not connect an AC source to an electrolytic cap.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t try this at home, but if you hook an aluminum electrolytic cap to a 120 VAC source, it will explode. Of course, if you do this and injure yourself I take no responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>Both aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors will be marked with either a \u201c+\u201d or a \u201c-\u201c to indicate which plate is which.<\/p>\n<p>These capacitors are popular due to their low cost and ability to provide a relatively high capacitance in a small package.<\/p>\n<p>Aluminum electrolytics also leak badly, have bad tolerances, and have a high inductance. Because of this, they are good for low frequency applications and not so good for high frequency ones.<\/p>\n<p>They should also not be used if the DC potential is well below the capacitor\u2019s rated voltage.<\/p>\n<p>These capacitors also have a limited life, even if they\u2019re just sitting in your parts bin. When grabbing one that\u2019s more than a few years old, be sure to check to see if it\u2019s still in spec.<\/p>\n<p>Typical values range from 0.1 \u00b5F to 500,000 \u00b5F or more.<\/p>\n<p>Applications include power supply ripple filters, audio coupling, and bypassing.<\/p>\n<p>A typical aluminum electrolytic capacitor appears in figure 6.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-867 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aluminum-electrolytic-capacitor.jpeg\" alt=\"aluminum electrolytic capacitor\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aluminum-electrolytic-capacitor.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aluminum-electrolytic-capacitor-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aluminum-electrolytic-capacitor-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 6: an aluminum electrolytic capacitor. Notice the stripe on the side that marks the negative plate.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tantalum electrolytic capacitors<\/strong> are made with tantalum pentoxide and are polarized like their aluminum cousins.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also smaller and more stable. They leak less and have less inductance than aluminum electrolytics. They sport a longer lifespan. The downside is that they\u2019re more expensive and have a lower maximum voltage and capacitance.<\/p>\n<p>Like aluminum electrolytics, tantalum caps can explode and\/or burst into flames if the polarity reverses.<\/p>\n<p>They often take up residence in analog signal systems that lack high current spike noise (spikes can damage them). Other applications include blocking, bypassing, decoupling, and filtering.<\/p>\n<p>Tantalum caps are not good for high frequency applications. Like the aluminum versions, they should not be used if the DC potential is far below the rated voltage.<\/p>\n<p>Figure 7 depicts a tantalum capacitor. Notice that they look different than the aluminum versions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-868 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tantalum-capacitor.png\" alt=\"tantalum capacitor\" width=\"329\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tantalum-capacitor.png 400w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tantalum-capacitor-150x146.png 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tantalum-capacitor-300x293.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 329px) 100vw, 329px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 7: a tantalum capacitor. Notice the + sign which marks the positive lead.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Plastic Film Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>These types of capacitors have replaced paper capacitors, which we will not discuss since they\u2019re obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few varieties of plastic film caps that are common, including polyester film and polypropylene film.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Polyester film capacitors <\/strong>(a.k.a. Mylar capacitors) use a thin polyester film as their dielectric (as any logical person may guess). Their tolerance (typically 5-10 percent) is not as good as polypropylene capacitors but they have good temperature stability and are cheap.<\/p>\n<p>Polyester film caps are good for coupling and storage purposes. They often find use in audio and oscillator circuits and moderately high frequency circuits.<\/p>\n<p>Capacitance values range from 0.001 \u00b5F to 10 \u00b5F.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 50 V to 600 V.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-869 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polyester-Film-Mylar-Capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"polyester film (Mylar) capacitor\" width=\"250\" height=\"170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polyester-Film-Mylar-Capacitor.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polyester-Film-Mylar-Capacitor-150x102.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 8: a typical polyester film (Mylar) capacitor.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Polypropylene film capacitors <\/strong>have a higher tolerance than polyester film caps, so use them in place of polyester for applications that require a tighter tolerance.<\/p>\n<p>Like polyester, they\u2019re good for coupling and storage purposes, but also come in handy for noise suppression, blocking, bypassing, filtering, and timing.<\/p>\n<p>Capacitance values range from 0.001 \u00b5F to about 0.47 \u00b5F.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 100 V to 600 V.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-870 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polypropylene-film-capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"polypropylene film capacitor\" width=\"278\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polypropylene-film-capacitor.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polypropylene-film-capacitor-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polypropylene-film-capacitor-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polypropylene-film-capacitor-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 9: a polypropylene film capacitor. Notice the similarity in appearance to the polyester film version.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Polystyrene capacitors <\/strong>aren\u2019t film capacitors, but I lumped them here anyway.<\/p>\n<p>These have a high inductance so they\u2019re not good for high frequency applications. Exposure to temperatures above 160\u2070 F (about 70\u2070 C) will permanently damage them. Polystyrene is similar to Styrofoam (there is a slight difference; Styrofoam is a brand name, hence the capitalization), and Styrofoam melts. So does polystyrene.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the high inductance, they are good for filtering and timing circuits running at a few hundred kilohertz or less. They\u2019re also cheap with good stability.<\/p>\n<p>Capacitance values range from 100 \u03c1F to 0.027 \u00b5F.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 30 V to 600 V.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-871 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polystyrene-Capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"polystyrene capacitor\" width=\"266\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polystyrene-Capacitor.jpg 319w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polystyrene-Capacitor-150x141.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Polystyrene-Capacitor-300x281.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 10: various polystyrene capacitors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Metalized Film Capacitors<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Like the plastic film variety, these also come in both polyester and polypropylene. Since they both exhibit similar traits, we\u2019re not going to treat them separately as we did with the plastic film caps.<\/p>\n<p>Metalized film capacitors are made by using a vacuum deposition process that laminates a film substrate with an extremely thin (literally several atoms thick) aluminum coating.<\/p>\n<p>They take up residence in circuits that use small signal levels (think low current and high impedance) where small physical size is a priority.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not good for large signal AC applications.<\/p>\n<p>One unique trait they possess is their self-healing ability. While shorts permanently destroy other capacitor types, these caps can heal themselves. Metalized film capacitors are also temperature stable with low drift.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll find them in switching power supplies, audio circuits where sound quality is important, noise suppression circuit, snubbers and more.<\/p>\n<p>Capacitance values range from 47 \u03c1F to 22 \u00b5F, depending on the type.<\/p>\n<p>Voltage ratings range from 63 V to 1250 V, again depending on the type.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-873 alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/metalized-film-capacitor.jpg\" alt=\"metalized film capacitors\" width=\"277\" height=\"261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/metalized-film-capacitor.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/metalized-film-capacitor-150x142.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 11: various metalized film capacitors. I\u2019m not sure what the dots on the side are for, but notice that they can look similar to their plastic film relatives.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Types of Capacitors \u2013 Wrapping it Up<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Now we know something about the most common types of capacitors and what they\u2019re good for and not good for.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to bookmark this post. It\u2019ll come in handy.<\/p>\n<p>Below is a nifty little chart that summarizes some of the characteristics of some of the capacitors we talked about.<\/p>\n<p>We didn\u2019t discuss it, but ESR stands for equivalent series resistance. ESR is a measure of the capacitor\u2019s internal resistance and in series with it. Maybe ESR and other capacitor specs we didn\u2019t discuss here will make an appearance in another article.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-874\" src=\"http:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors.jpg\" alt=\"Types of capacitors\" width=\"1073\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors-600x191.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors-150x48.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors-300x96.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors-768x245.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors-1024x326.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1073px) 100vw, 1073px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Figure 12: a quick run-down of several common capacitor types.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Until next time, comment and tell us: what types of capacitors do you use the most? Also, why do you pick that particular type?<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Become the Maker you were born to be. Try <a href=\"https:\/\/learnarduinonow.com\">Arduino Academy<\/a> for FREE!<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"828\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2.png 828w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-300x114.png 300w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-150x57.png 150w, https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/FB_Cover2-768x292.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>References:<\/em><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Cook, Nigel P. <em>Introductory DC\/AC Electronics, 4th Ed.<\/em> Prentice Hall, 1999. Print.<\/li>\n<li>Scherz, Paul &amp; Monk, Simon. <em>Practical Electronics for Inventors, 4th Ed. <\/em>McGraw Hill, 2016. Print.<\/li>\n<li>Byers, TJ. &#8220;Bypass Caps Demystified [the chart].&#8221; <em>Nuts and Volts<\/em> January 2007: 18-19. Print.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drpeterscode.com\/index.php\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/dpabottomofpostpage\/apixel1x1.jpg\" ><\/a><table><\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Next to the resistor, the capacitor is one of the most common electronic components out there. And, like resistors, there are many different types of capacitors with each one having its pros, cons, and applications that it\u2019s good for. A while ago, I published a post about several common resistor types you\u2019re likely to run [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[97],"class_list":{"0":"post-860","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-electronics","8":"tag-capacitors","9":"entry"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Types-of-Capacitors_2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4326,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions\/4326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.circuitcrush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}