Aluminum Capacitor

( Aluminum Capacitor (EC Capacitor) )
When you use aluminum electrolytic capacitors, remember the follow:


1. Polarity
Regular electrolytic Capacitor has polarity. Reverse voltage causes short circuit breakage of the capacitor or leakage of electrolyte. Where the polarity in a circuit sometimes reversed or unknown, a bi-polar capacitor should be used.


2. Over voltage
Do not apply over voltage continuously. When over voltage is applied to the capacitor, leakage current increase drastically. Applied working voltage to capacitors should not exceed the rated working voltage of capacitor.


3. Operating temperature and life
Do not use the capacitor over the max operating temperature. Life time of the capacitor depends on the temperature. Generally, life time is doubled by decreasing each temperature 10.


4. Vent
It is recommended at least 3 mm of space around the vent. If such space is not provided, the vent will not operate completely.


5. Ripple current
Do not apply a ripple current exceeding the rated maximum ripple current. Apply too much ripple current to the capacitor causes great heat generation, invites deterioration of properties of causes breakage.


6. Charge and discharging
Frequent and quick change/discharge generates heat inside the capacitor, causing increase of leakage current, decrease of capacitance, or breakage occasionally.


7. Storage
When the capacitor is stored for a long time without applying voltage, leakage current tends to increase. This returns to normal by applying the rated voltage to the capacitor before use.


8. Soldering
Improper soldering may shrink or break the insulating sleeve and /or damage the internal element as terminals and lead wires conduct heat into the capacitor. Avoid too high a soldering temperature and/or too long a soldering time.


9. Mechanical stress on the lead wire and the terminal.
Do not apply excessive force to the lead wire and the terminal. Do not move the capacitor after soldering to the PC board, not carry the PC board by picking up the capacitor. For their strength, refer to JIS C-5141 and C-5102.


10. Warning for cleaning solvent
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors may be damaged by corrosion hydrocarbon solvents. The followings are some examples for safe and unsafe cleaning solvents. Please let us know in advance solvent name and conditions for your PCB cleaning.

safe cleaning	unsafe cleaning
Xylence	1.1.2-Trichloro-1.2
Ethyl alcohol	Carbon tetrachloride
Butyl alcohol	chloroform
Methyl alcohol	Trichloroethane
Proy1 alcohol	Trichloroethylene
Calgonito (detergent)	Methylene chloride

11. Sleeve material
The standard sleve material is polyvinyl-chloride. If exposed to xylene, toluene, ect, and then subjected to high heat, the sleeve may crack. This sleeve is not insulating material.


12. Fcon’s Products meet or exceed quality standards specified by JIS-C-5141W and with the reliability requirements refer to JIS-C-5102.


13. None of ozone depleting chemicals (ODC) under the Montreal Protocol is used in manufacturing process of Fcon Electronic Industrial CO., Ltd.