Automotive electrolytic capacitors help save board space

They deliver higher performance in smaller case sizes than previous-generation solutions. The Vishay BCcomponents 172 RLX series combines high ripple currents up to 4.9 A, high temperature operation to +105 °C, and very long useful life to 10 000 h in 14 case sizes ranging from 10 mm by 12 mm to 18 mm by 40 mm.

Compared to previous-generation solutions, the AEC-Q200 qualified capacitors released today offer lower impedance, higher capacitance for a given case size and voltage, and up to 54 % higher ripple current at the same capacitance-voltage (CV) rating in smaller case sizes.

For example, while previous-generation solutions offer ripple current of 1100 mA at a CV rating of 1000 F / 10 V in the 10 mm by 16 mm case size, the 172 RLX series delivers 1700 mA in the 10 mm by 12 mm case size.

This allows designers to utilise fewer components, increasing design flexibility and saving board space.

Featuring radial leads and a cylindrical aluminum case with pressure relief, insulated with a blue sleeve, the 172 RLX series offers rated voltages up to 50 V, capacitance from 150 µF to 15 000 µF, and low impedance down to 0.011 Ω at +20 °C. The devices are charge- and discharge-proof.

As polarised aluminium electrolytic capacitors with a non-solid electrolyte, the RoHS-compliant devices are ideally suited for smoothing, filtering, and buffering in switch mode power supplies, DC/DC converters, motor drives, and control units for industrial, automotive, telecommunications, audio-video, and electronic data processing (EDP) applications.