How to Use Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor?

Following steps can make your capacitor performance better when using aluminum electrolytic capacitor.

Using Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor at recommended working voltage (recommended working voltage = (70% or 80%)* rated voltage) prolongs capacitor life. Otherwise, apply voltage greater than the rated voltage may cause the leakage current will increase to damage the capacitor.

The characteristics of capacitors change with the operating temperature. Higher temperatures may caused the capacitance of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor, leakage and dissipation factor decrease. So we suggest you use capacitor at lower temperature. The expected life of a capacitor is related to its ambient temperature.

To recognize the polarity of capacitor, DC electrolytic capacitors can not be used for AC application, if you are not determine the polarity of capacitors, use bipolar capcitors (Bipolar capacitors are used only in pulse circuits as well as polarity reverse circuits, but not applicable in pure AC or high ripple current.).

Remember that capacitance decreases and dissipation factor increase as the applied frequency becomes higher, so you need to check operating frequency.

If you charge and discharge frequently, please use specially designed Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors to avoid be damaged and be shortened by capacitance decrease at higher temperature.

Although there is no effect on a capacitor's capacitance and dissipation factor if it has long periods of storage, such periods can increase leakage current and decrease the capacitors withstand voltage. So apply rated DC voltage treatment to the capacitors which have been stored for a long time.

Allow excessive ripple current through the capacitor will cause heating of the capacitor, which may decrease the capacitance and damage the capacitor. Ripple current through the capacitor <= allowable level (allowable level <= 80% * rated current).

The capacitor case is not insulated form the cathode terminal and Do not apply excessive force to the terminals and leads.