ESD safe caps in series still ESD safe?

• ESD safe caps in series still ESD safe?
  Posted by MrMetthew on 25 Apr, 2018 15:50
• Hi all,
  
  I was wondering, if I put two esd safe capacitors (e.g. AVX ESD55C472K4T2A-18) in series to double the voltage rating of the cap, will they preserve their esd safe properties?
• #1 Reply
  Posted by T3sl4co1l on 25 Apr, 2018 17:51
• I don't see why not.
  
  Tim
• #2 Reply
  Posted by MrMetthew on 26 Apr, 2018 07:53
• Quote from: T3sl4co1l on 25 Apr, 2018 17:51

  I don't see why not.
  
  Tim
  

  
  Maybe because the esr gets doubled? I am not sure..
• #3 Reply
  Posted by jmelson on 26 Apr, 2018 19:41
• Quote from: MrMetthew on 25 Apr, 2018 15:50

  Hi all,
  
  I was wondering, if I put two esd safe capacitors (e.g. AVX ESD55C472K4T2A-18) in series to double the voltage rating of the cap, will they preserve their esd safe properties?
  

  That's 4700 pF?  Geez, what's this ESD safe stuff?  I think it would be VERY hard to damage a 4700 pF cap unless your ESD conditions are so bad you are getting visible/audible sparks jumping around.  The really worst-case human body model has a 470 pF reservoir cap that is charged to the test voltage, this is worse than almost any real ESD event you can imagine in a station where exposed PC boards are handled.
  
  Jon
• #4 Reply
  Posted by Niklas on 26 Apr, 2018 21:33
• The internal structure is slightly different on these capacitors to provide a discharge path that bypasses the wanted capacitance. Apart from that they are just like normal capacitors and can be connected in series or in parallell.
  
  https://incompliancemag.com/article/effectiveness-of-multilayer-ceramic-capacitors-for-electrostatic-discharge-protection/
• #5 Reply
  Posted by wraper on 26 Apr, 2018 22:07
• Quote from: Niklas on 26 Apr, 2018 21:33

  The internal structure is slightly different on these capacitors to provide a discharge path that bypasses the wanted capacitance. Apart from that they are just like normal capacitors and can be connected in series or in parallell.
  
  https://incompliancemag.com/article/effectiveness-of-multilayer-ceramic-capacitors-for-electrostatic-discharge-protection/
  

  They don't provide any discharge path. The difference is in placement of conductive plates.