Author Topic: Aluminum electrolytic capacitor ESR measurement, excessive reverse voltage?  (Read 1333 times)

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Offline matthuszaghTopic starter

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I'm reading an application note about aluminum electrolytics from Cornell-Dubilier (attached) where they state the following about performing an ESR measurement:

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For aluminum electrolytic capacitors, ESR is measured as the resistance of the equivalent series circuit at 25 °C in a measuring bridge supplied by a 120 Hz source free of harmonics with maximum AC signal voltage of 1 V rms and no forward-bias voltage.

That would put the negative peak voltage at -1.4 V. Is that not excessive? If not, why not and what would be excessive? Does the signal frequency play into this.

They mention the same 1Vrms signal for the impedance measurement across frequency. They don't explicitly mention bias voltage here, but I would expect it's also 0 bias.
 

Offline moffy

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Page 180 of the document you reference states: "By comparison, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are polarized and cannot withstand voltage reversal in excess of 1.5 V."
So it appears the 1V rms just fits within this limit.
 

Offline matthuszaghTopic starter

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Thanks for pointing that out. It seems like there are a lot of different opinions on acceptable reverse voltage. I've seen anywhere from -0.5 to -1.5.
 

Offline moffy

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I was surprised at how large it was, I've always imagined about -0.6V but with no real data.
 

Offline T3sl4co1l

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I've seen figures from that, to 5 or 10% of rating, to 5V or so...

There's not an electrode potential associated with it; or, if there is it's probably related to the electrolyte, maybe as an ionic bilayer or something, which will be good for a volt or two depending on electrolyte.  So, it's not like it's exactly the 1.229V of water.  (I don't actually know how much if any water they use in electrolytics, anyway?  Mmh, probably mostly, still; just with enough stuff dissolved in it to raise the boiling point, at least for applicable (high temp) types.)

Also, [re]forming is a process that still works on finished capacitors; you can reverse one, and as long as it's done slowly enough (to avoid overheating, and allow gas to diffuse out), it will survive.  If maybe not still within ratings (the cathode isn't textured so won't have as much capacitance as the anode does; the material is thinned in the process, perhaps increasing ESR, and certainly decreasing life; etc.).

Which is basically how bipolar electrolytics are made, as far as I know -- symmetrical (textured and formed) foils.

Electrolytics are certainly less sensitive than say tantalums, which can tolerate only a small reversal and don't [re]form (at least not in the same way) (so, are more likely to fail shorted [or worse]).

Tim
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Offline Conrad Hoffman

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The actual voltage across the cap is likely quite small- few bridges could supply the current to generate much AC voltage across a large cap.
 

Offline matthuszaghTopic starter

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The actual voltage across the cap is likely quite small- few bridges could supply the current to generate much AC voltage across a large cap.

Oh good point. I checked the specifications for the HP 4192A, which I would imagine is a typical instrument for this sort of thing, and it gives an output impedance of 50ohms.
 


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