Tantalum Capacitors - Features in Operation

Condenser is one of the most common elements in any electronic circuit. Analogues for these elements have not yet been invented. They perfectly retain their charge and can almost instantly give it away. If an instantaneous discharge of 50 percent or more can damage the battery, then for a capacitor this is the normal operating mode. Powerful capacitor banks are used in substations as compensators for reactive power. They increase cos φ at the operating enterprises and can quite replace, suppose, the powerful generator which is deduced from work. Thus, powerful capacitor batteries are involved in the production process itself. They improve the quality of the supply network.

These products occupy a worthy place in electronics. With their help, almost all existing schemes are implemented. But, unfortunately, there are samples and certain drawbacks. We are accustomed to consider an ideal capacitor that is devoid of flaws and obeys certain laws in its work that can easily be described using mathematical formulas. In practice, everything happens in a different way. There is a leakage current - the main problem for many types of these devices.

With the development of production technology of these elements, tantalum capacitors appeared. They are practically devoid of all the basic drawbacks inherent in conventional analogues. In terms of their parameters, they are as close as possible to an ideal capacitor.

• They have a very low leakage current, which allows them to be used in the design of particularly precise and responsible circuits in electronics.
• Tantalum capacitors can work fine in a wide temperature range (-80 to +125 ° C) and frequency range. However, their parameters do not change.
• They have a small series resistance and inductance.
• The small scattering coefficient and the impedance of the device complete the overall positive picture.

However, like all elements and devices, tantalum capacitors have certain drawbacks. It is important to know about them when designing an electronic circuit.

• Tantalum capacitors are sensitive to exceeding the main parameters in operation. In particular, it is not recommended to exceed (even briefly) the rated voltage for which this device is designed.
• The technology of their manufacture is quite complex and consists of several stages. Even a small deviation from it or the use of poor quality raw materials lead to a change in the parameters of the product.
• Sufficiently high cost of the capacitor is a direct way to increasing the cost of the entire electronic circuit (this will certainly affect the estimate).

It should also be taken into account that the labeling of tantalum capacitors has its own characteristics. It practically does not differ from other devices. But this applies only to the capacitors of the recent release. "Old" capacitors are color-coded, the decoding of which is easy to find on the Web. In addition, it must be taken into account that smd tantalum capacitors are marked with a digital-alphabetic series. If you are not a specialist in these attachments - when consulting, contact the seller. The basic information given above will allow us to ask meaningful questions.