Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

APAQ has been dedicated to researching high-conductivity polymer material capacitors and has amassed extensive production experience.

Safe Use of Conductive Polymer Aluminum Solid Capacitors (Polymer) and Hybrid Electrolytic Capacitors: Rated Voltage, Reverse Voltage, Surge, and Abnormal Conditions

ESR, ripple current, and rated temperature of conductive polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors directly affect output ripple, transient response, heat generation, stability, and service life. A correct understanding of these key parameters will better assist engineers in selecting the appropriate capacitor solutions for power supply designs.


What is Rated Voltage? Can it be exceeded?

Do not apply a voltage that exceeds the rated voltage, including the peak value after DC and AC components are superimposed.
Exceeding the rated voltage may cause abnormal heating, increased leakage current, and even short-circuit failure.

When ripple is superimposed on DC, which voltage should be checked: the average value or the peak value?

Check the maximum instantaneous voltage, not just the average value.
After the DC voltage and ripple are superimposed, the terminal voltage at any moment must not exceed the rated voltage (Vr).
If the ripple data is given in RMS, convert it to peak based on the actual waveform before making the comparison.

What is Surge Voltage (Vs), and how is it different from rated voltage?

Surge Voltage (Vs) is an allowable voltage only under short-duration, non-continuous conditions. It must not be regarded as the normal operating voltage. The applicable conditions shall be subject to the specifications defined in the datasheet of each series.

Can conductive polymer aluminum solid capacitors and hybrid electrolytic capacitors withstand reverse voltage?

Reverse installation and reverse voltage application are not permitted.
These products are polarized components. If there is any risk of reverse voltage, appropriate protection should be incorporated into the circuit design.
Reverse use may cause increased leakage current, performance degradation, and shorter life. In severe cases, it may lead to short-circuit failure.

What basic checks help avoid abnormal conditions during installation and design?

1. Confirm that the specifications match the equipment requirements.
2. Before installation, confirm that the rated capacitance and rated voltage of the capacitor match the circuit requirements.
3. Confirm polarity.
4. Install the capacitor with correct positive and negative orientation to avoid reverse connection.
5. Avoid overvoltage, including ripple peaks.
6. Confirm that the maximum instantaneous voltage after DC and ripple are superimposed does not exceed the rated voltage (Vr).
7. Do not apply a voltage that exceeds the rated voltage.
8. Keep surge conditions under control.

What happens if the rated voltage is exceeded or the capacitor is used in reverse by mistake?

Leakage current may increase, and performance and life may deteriorate.
Under severe abnormal conditions, such as overvoltage or reverse use, short-circuit failure may occur.

APAQ Safe Use of Conductive Polymer Aluminum Solid Capacitors (Polymer) and Hybrid Electrolytic Capacitors: Rated Voltage, Reverse Voltage, Surge, and Abnormal Conditions Introduction

APAQ TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. is Taiwan supplier and manufacturer in Manufacturing of electronic products and related fields. APAQ has been offering our customers high quality Conductive Polymer Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, Conductive Polymer Hybrid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor, Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor since 2005. With both advanced technology and 20 years experience, APAQ always make sure to meet each customer's demand.