Capacitors

Description

A Capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy in the form of an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric and is widely used in filtering, power factor correction, energy storage, and signal processing across electrical and electronic systems.

Specifications

• Capacitance: pF (picofarads) → µF (microfarads) → F (farads, for supercapacitors)

• Voltage Rating: 6.3V – 1000V+

• Tolerance: ±1% to ±20%

• Dielectric Types: Electrolytic, Ceramic, Film, Mica, Tantalum, Paper, Supercapacitor

• Mounting: Through-hole, SMD, or panel-mounted (for power capacitors)

• Standards: IEC 60384, IS 2993 (for power capacitors)

Features

• Available in a wide range of capacitance & voltage ratings

• Different dielectric materials for specialized applications

• High reliability and long service life

• Provides smoothing, filtering, and power correction

• Compact to large form factors depending on use

Applications

• Electronics – filtering, timing, coupling/decoupling circuits

• Motors & HVAC – start and run capacitors

• Power systems – power factor correction, harmonic filtering

• Renewable energy – smoothing DC in solar/wind inverters

• Automotive & EVs – regenerative braking and energy storage

• Signal processing – frequency tuning and noise reduction

Advantages

• Stores and delivers electrical energy when needed

• Improves power factor and reduces losses

• Provides voltage smoothing in power supplies

• Available in many types for diverse applications

Disadvantages

• Polarity sensitivity (in electrolytic types)

• Can degrade over time (especially under heat)

• Limited energy storage compared to batteries

• Voltage breakdown if used beyond rating