MAL212833339E3

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

The MAL212833339E3 capacitor is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, which is widely used in power supplies, general purpose electronic circuits, DC-DC converters, motor controls, automotive audio systems, and other electrical and electronic applications. These capacitors are composed of two aluminum plates separated by a porous insulating material. They are available in various sizes, shapes, and capacities.

Working Principle

Aluminium Electrolytic Capacitor works on a different principle. It consists of two electrodes, one made up of aluminium alloy and other of pure aluminium. The alloyed electrode is the anode and the other one the cathode at which the reverse voltage is applied. The anode is immersed in an electrolyte solution, typically a mixture of water and ethanol, and the cathode is connected to the ground. When a voltage is applied across the electrodes, the anode is oxidized. This creates a semi-conductor effect on the surface of the aluminium foil and on the junction between the two electrodes. This is what allows the capacitor to store energy.

Application Field

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are found in a variety of applications such as power supplies, general purpose electronic circuits, DC-DC converters, motor controls, automotive audio systems, and other electrical and electronic applications. These capacitors can also be used in consumer products such as computers, cellular phones, digital cameras, personal audio/video players, laptops and more.

These capacitors are also used in power electronics as a low-pass filter to reduce high-frequency noise, to provide filtering of high-frequency switching signals, to provide “motor start” capacitance, and as a short-term energy storage device for power supply ripple. In many industrial applications such as welding equipment, control systems, PCs, rail locomotives, and mining, high-energy aluminum electrolytic capacitors are used.

Advantages

The main advantage of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is their high capacitance for a given size, their low ESR and their high ripple current capabilities. Their small size makes them ideal for use in circuit boards with limited physical space. They possess a high-temperature tolerance and a low impedance. Aluminum electrolytic capacitors have a wide range of operating temperature from −25°C to +105°C and can be used in low voltage applications.

Disadvantages

However, aluminum electrolytic capacitors have some disadvantages as well. They have a limited useful life, as their aluminum plates and electrolyte slowly degrade over time. This results in voltage exhaustion and, hence, capacitance loss. They are temperature sensitive, and at high temperatures, their capacitance can decrease significantly. Furthermore, their response time to voltage changes is slow.

Conclusion

The MAL212833339E3 capacitor is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor designed primarily for power supply and other electrical and electronic applications. It is a widely used device due to its high capacitance, small size, low impedance, low ESR and high ripple current capability. However, one should keep in mind the limited lifespan of aluminum electrolytic capacitors and the temperature sensitivity of the device when choosing it for their application.