53
In specifying capacitance change with temperature for Class
2 materials, EIA expresses the capacitance change over an
operating temperature range by a 3 symbol code. The first
symbol represents the cold temperature end of the temper-
ature range, the second represents the upper limit of the
operating temperature range and the third symbol repre-
sents the capacitance change allowed over the
operating temperature range. Table 1 provides a detailed
explanation of the EIA system.
Effects of Voltage – Variations in voltage have little effect
on Class 1 dielectric but does affect the capacitance and
dissipation factor of Class 2 dielectrics. The application of
DC voltage reduces both the capacitance and dissipation
factor while the application of an AC voltage within a
reasonable range tends to increase both capacitance and
dissipation factor readings. If a high enough AC voltage is
applied, eventually it will reduce capacitance just as a DC
voltage will. Figure 2 shows the effects of AC voltage.
Capacitor specifications specify the AC voltage at which to
measure (normally 0.5 or 1 VAC) and application of the
wrong voltage can cause spurious readings. Figure 3 gives
the voltage coefficient of dissipation factor for various AC
voltages at 1 kilohertz. Applications of different frequencies
will affect the percentage changes versus voltages.
Typical effect of the application of DC voltage is shown in
Figure 4. The voltage coefficient is more pronounced for
higher K dielectrics. These figures are shown for room tem-
perature conditions. The combination characteristic known
as voltage temperature limits which shows the effects of
rated voltage over the operating temperature range is
shown in Figure 5 for the military BX characteristic.
General Description
Figure 2
50
40
30
20
10
0
12.5
25
37.5
50
Volts AC at 1.0 KHz
Capacitance
Change
Percent
Cap. Change vs. A.C. Volts
X7R
Figure 3
Curve 3 - 25 VDC Rated Capacitor
Curve 2 - 50 VDC Rated Capacitor
Curve 1 - 100 VDC Rated Capacitor
Curve 3
Curve 2
Curve 1
.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
AC Measurement Volts at 1.0 KHz
Dissipation
Factor
Percent
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0
D.F. vs. A.C. Measurement Volts
X7R
EIA CODE
Percent Capacity Change Over Temperature Range
RS198
Temperature Range
X7
-55°C to +125°C
X5
-55°C to +85°C
Y5
-30°C to +85°C
Z5
+10°C to +85°C
Code
Percent Capacity Change
D±3.3%
E±4.7%
F±7.5%
P±10%
R±15%
S±22%
T
+22%, -33%
U
+22%, - 56%
V
+22%, -82%
MIL CODE
Symbol
Temperature Range
A
-55°C to +85°C
B
-55°C to +125°C
C
-55°C to +150°C
Symbol
Cap. Change
Zero Volts
Rated Volts
R
+15%, -15%
+15%, -40%
W
+22%, -56%
+22%, -66%
X
+15%, -15%
+15%, -25%
Y
+30%, -70%
+30%, -80%
Z
+20%, -20%
+20%, -30%
Table 1: EIA and MIL Temperature Stable and General
Application Codes
EXAMPLE – A capacitor is desired with the capacitance value at 25°C
to increase no more than 7.5% or decrease no more than 7.5% from
-30°C to +85°C. EIA Code will be Y5F.
Temperature characteristic is specified by combining range and
change symbols, for example BR or AW. Specification slash sheets
indicate the characteristic applicable to a given style of capacitor.