Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors (AECs) are electrical components that are used within electronics projects as energy storage devices, and are found within a variety of power circuits, including synchronous motor drives, high-efficiency lighting systems, energy conversion systems and solar power systems.

B43705B5188M000 is an AEC developed by EPCOS for applications with high performance requirements. They have an exceptionally long life and an extremely low equivalent series resistance (ESR) values, which makes them ideal for use in high-temperature, high-performance applications. The capacitors are also equipped with a through-hole mounting feature that offers excellent mechanical stability during installation and operation.

Application Field

B43705B5188M000 AECs are mainly used in automotive, aerospace, medical, power electronics and industrial applications. In automotive applications, they are used for On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) systems and HVAC. In medical applications, they are used in ultrasound, imaging and endoscopy. In power electronics applications, these capacitors are used for switching power supplies and DC-AC converters, motor drives and LED lighting.

Working Principle

An AEC consists of two electrodes: an anode foil and a cathode foil. The anode is made of aluminum and the cathode is made of an activated carbon material. The electrodes are separated by an electrolyte, creating a thin layer between them. As the voltage is applied, positive charges accumulate on the anode, while negative charges accumulate on the cathode. This results in an electric field that attracts opposite polarities and creates electric charge.

The capacitance of the AEC is determined by the area of the anode and cathode foils, the distance between them and the type of electrolyte used. The AECs are polarized, meaning they can only be charged in a certain direction, thus being able to control the charge and discharge current. They also feature a low ESR, allowing for high frequency operation. This makes them suitable for high-performance applications, such as medical and automotive.