25ZL100MEFCT16.3X11

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are widely used in various applications. They are used to store energy and filter unwanted frequency signals, both of which are essential for electrical equipment. They are used in dc-dc converters, voltage converters, amplifiers, motor drives, power supplies, and control circuits.

The value of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is measured in Farads (F) and is denoted by the first two digits of the part number, for example 25ZL100MEFCT16.3X11. The first two digits in the part number refer to the capacitance value of the capacitor, in this case 25, which basically means 25uF or 25 micro-Farads.

Application Field

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are mainly used in many areas such as medical, military, commercial, and consumer electronics. These capacitors are capable of being small in size and providing large capacitance values. They can be found in low voltage dc-dc conversion, power supplies, robotics, automotive, industrial, aircraft, and other applications.

They are usually used in high-current impulse applications, providing prompt increase and decrease in voltage when required. They are used as bypass, decoupling, buffering, signal supply, and filtering capacitors.

Working Principle

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are polar devices, with a positive and negative terminal. They consist of an anode (or cathode) which is made from aluminum foil and a separator that is soaked in pure electrolyte. The aluminum is coated with a thin oxide layer which acts as the dielectric, allowing the capacitor to store electric charge.

The stored charge is released when the positive and negative terminals of the capacitor are reconnected. The electric current is then allowed to flow through the capacitor, which results in the voltage across the capacitor being reduced. This decrease in voltage is known as capacitance.

Essentially, aluminum electrolytic capacitors act as a buffer between the power supply and the load, preventing spikes in current that can harm sensitive electronic components. Furthermore, they are able to store and release energy quickly, providing quick boosts of power when required.