CAPACITOR

Definitation and material of capacitor

A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of an
electrostatic field.
The basic construction or material of all capacitors is of two parallel metal plates separated
by an insulating material called the dielectric. Real capacitors are made by taking thin strips
of metal foil and the appropriate dielectric material and sandwiching them together.
Types and symbols of capacitor
There are many different types of capacitor that can be used - most of the major types
are outlined below:
1. Ceramic Capacitor
Ceramic capacitor is made from ceramic materials. This capacitor has a thin round
shaped or rectangular. Ceramic capacitor doesnt has polarity poles, so it can be
installed in reverse polarity. Ceramic capacitor values ranging from 1 pF to 0.01 F.
2. Polyester Capacitor
Polyester capacitor is made from polyester. These capacitors have a rectangular
shape. In electronic circuit, polyester capacitors can be installed in reverse polarity
because doesnt has polarity poles.
3. Paper Capacitor
Paper capacitor is capacitor dielectric materials made from paper. In general paper
capacitor values ranging between 300 pF to 4 F. Paper capacitors doesnt has
polarity poles, so it can be reverse installed in electronics circuit.
4. Mica Capacitor
Mica capacitor is capacitor dielectric materials made from mica. Mica capacitor
values generally range between 50 pF to 0.02 F. Mica capacitors doesnt has
polarity poles, so it can be reverse installed in electronics circuit.
5. Electrolyte Capacitor
Electrolyte capacitor is a capacitor made of dielectric materials from electrolyte.
This capacitor has shaped cylindrical. Electrolyte capacitors or usually called Elco
is often used in electronics circuit that requires high capacitance. The electrolyte
capacitors which have positive pole (+) and negative pole (-). In general, the value
of electrolyte capacitors ranges from 0.1 F to thousands microfarad (F). Usually
in the body electrolyte capacitors will be shown the value capacitance, voltage, and
negative terminal.
6. Tantalum Capacitor
Tantalum capacitor is capacitor dielectric materials made of tantalum metal. This
capacitor which have positive pole (+) and negative pole (-) as the electrolyte
capacitor. Tantalum capacitors can operate at higher temperatures than other
capacitor types, and also has a large capacitance but packaged in a smaller size.

Function and characteristic of capacitor

The function of capacitors is to store electric energy when they are connected to a
battery or some other charging circuit. They are commonly placed in electronic components
and are used to maintain a power supply while the device is unplugged and without a battery
for a short time. The energy within the capacitor prevents the loss of data, with an example
being the RAM of a computer.
Base on the circuit
Series and parallel capacitors circuit
a. Series capacitors circuit
When capacitors are installed in series circuit, it was found that the current through the
capacitor will be same, while the voltage passing through it differently. Installation of
capacitors in series performed to obtain a capacitance value that is smaller than the
original value of the capacitor.
example :
The capacitors are installed in series circuit, and the value of capacitors are :
C1 = 4 F, C2 = 6 F, C3 = 8 F.
1
1
1
So, the value of capacitance : Cs = 4 F + 6 F + 8 F = 0,54 F
b. Parallel capacitors circuit
When capacitors are installed in parallel circuit, it was found that the current through the
capacitor has a different value, while the voltage on each capacitor will be the same.
Installation of capacitors in series performed to obtain a capacitance value that is greater
than the value of the original capacitor.
example :
The capacitors are installed in parallel circuit, and the value of capacitors are :
C1 = 4 F, C2 = 6 F, C3 = 8 F.
So, the value of capacitance : Cp = 4 F +6 F+ 8 F = 18 F

Base on the specification

1. Nominal Capacitance, ( C )
The nominal value of the Capacitance, C of a capacitor is the most important of all capacitor
characteristics. This value measured in pico-Farads (pF), nano-Farads (nF) or micro-Farads
(F) and is marked onto the body of the capacitor as numbers, letters or coloured bands.

2. Tolerance Rating (%)

All capacitors have a tolerance rating that can range from -20% to as high as +80% for
aluminium electrolytics affecting its actual or real value. The choice of capacitance is
determined by the circuit configuration but the value read on the side of a capacitor may not
necessarily be its actual value.

3. Working Voltage, ( WV )
The Working Voltage is another important capacitor characteristic that defines the maximum
continuous voltage either DC or AC that can be applied to the capacitor without failure
during its working life. Generally, the working voltage printed onto the side of a capacitors
body refers to its DC working voltage, (WVDC).
Any DC voltage in excess of its working voltage or an excessive AC ripple current may cause
failure. It follows therefore, that a capacitor will have a longer working life if operated in a
cool environment and within its rated voltage. Common working DC voltages are 10V, 16V,
25V, 35V, 50V, 63V, 100V, 160V, 250V, 400V and 1000V and are printed onto the body of the
capacitor.

Aplications of capacitor

Power factor correction

In electric power distribution, capacitors are used for power factor correction. Such capacitors
often come as three capacitors connected as a three phase load. Usually, the values of these
capacitors are given not in farads but rather as a reactive power in volt-amperes reactive
(VAr). The purpose is to counteract inductive loading from devices like electric
motors and transmission lines to make the load appear to be mostly resistive.
Signal coupling
Because capacitors pass AC but block DC signals (when charged up to the applied DC
voltage), they are often used to separate the AC and DC components of a signal. This method
is known as AC coupling or "capacitive coupling". Here, a large value of capacitance, whose
value need not be accurately controlled, but whose reactance is small at the signal frequency,
is employed.

 Motor starters
In single phase squirrel cage motors, the primary winding within the motor housing is not
capable of starting a rotational motion on the rotor, but is capable of sustaining one. To start
the motor, a secondary winding is used in series with a non-polarized starting capacitor to
introduce a lag in the sinusoidal current through the starting winding. When the secondary
winding is placed at an angle with respect to the primary winding, a rotating electric field is
created. The force of the rotational field is not constant, but is sufficient to start the rotor
spinning. When the rotor comes close to operating speed, a centrifugal switch (or currentsensitive relay in series with the main winding) disconnects the capacitor. The start capacitor
is typically mounted to the side of the motor housing. These are called capacitor-start motors,
and have relatively high starting torque.

CAPACITOR
Definitation and material of capacitor

Types and symbols of capacitor

Function and characteristic of capacitor

Base on circuit
a. Series capacitors circuit

b. Parallel capacitors circuit

Base on specification

Aplications of capacitor

Power factor correction

Signal coupling

Motor starters