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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets.

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Old 17th Jul 2019, 2:33 pm   #1
60 oldjohn
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Default SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

How can I tell the difference between an X5R, X7R or a Y5V capacitor? I bought a 0805 sample book from Ebay. I need X5R or X7R for a project.


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Old 17th Jul 2019, 3:07 pm   #2
dave cox
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

The Y5V capacitance should have dropped like a stone at 100C !

dc
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Old 17th Jul 2019, 3:14 pm   #3
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

I would throw them in the bin and buy some X7R's from a reputable dealer. Rapid sell some decent ones from a company called Suntan.

Y5V tend to be the most common but are basically only useful at room temperature. I mistakenly built an audio oscillator a couple of years back with a pair of them and it could be frequency controlled by blowing at it. The cheaper dielectrics only exist because for bulk decoupling they are fine and a few percent cheaper. This adds up if you buy millions of them but for end users I would stick to X7R for decoupling/coupling/bypassing and C0G for anything frequency sensitive.

I usually buy the Murata ones from RS but they're not particularly cheap in small quantities.
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Old 17th Jul 2019, 3:37 pm   #4
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Bin them.

It will save you time, money and anguish.

NP0/C0G are good precision RF capacitors up to about 2200pf. First port of call but dear

X7R are more a sort of decoupling grade. Not as stable as NP0 but pack in a lot more C to limited sizes. Second port of call, cheap

Y5V X5R are specialist ultra high density jobs. A lot are now trying to replace small electrolytics. Capacitance varies drastically with temperature AND WITH VOLTAGE. These are very nasty parts. Only limited applications can get away with them. Cheaper than X7R sometimes they are pushed at you on price. Don't even think of them.

There is currently a global shortage of known brand SMT ceramics so all sorts of shenanigans are happening.

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Old 17th Jul 2019, 6:24 pm   #5
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

There is indeed a global shortage. I have a product design I licence out that uses particular values of X1/Y2 rated surface mount capacitors. Originally Murata. Then some values of that dried up, and we were forced to look to other named brand parts like Syfer. Then via procurement agents (who hoover up difficult to source parts and sell at a profit).

All a bit of a nightmare.

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Old 17th Jul 2019, 6:48 pm   #6
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Is the colour any help? X7R are brownish, COG are greyish, what about Y5V and X5R?
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Old 17th Jul 2019, 7:49 pm   #7
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

In my experience it's impossible to tell the various dielectrics apart by colour. All except C0G are just brownish, in general.

I've noticed recently that decent X7R parts are available in larger values and smaller sizes so the temptation to use horrible Y5V has largely gone away.

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Old 17th Jul 2019, 9:14 pm   #8
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Thanks for the replies, I have just noticed that 1pf to 100pf are marked COG most of the rest are marked X7R +- 10% with just a couple 220nf & 10uf are Y5V +80~-20%. So if these markings are to be believed just two values not to be trusted?


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Old 17th Jul 2019, 9:35 pm   #9
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Even the dodgy Y5V ones are still O.K. for separating AC from DC, and the construction has an intrinsically low ESL. Maybe not necessarily chuck them; just don't use them in timers, oscillators or filters. But they'll be fine across the power pins of ICs.
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Old 17th Jul 2019, 9:57 pm   #10
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Y5V and Z5U, I avoid.

However, if operating at room temperature and value isn't critical, they can be useful. Cheaper than X7R, and more significantly, smaller (or, for the same size, much more capacitance).
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Old 17th Jul 2019, 11:09 pm   #11
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

Some capacitor makers reckoned that their products were becoming too much of a commodity and under valued. So they shut a few plants. The result has been devastation.

Their distributors are going around telling their customers that they are dropping larger sizes and only intend to make 0402 and smaller in future.

They are warning customers not to place extra orders with different suppliers and then cancel the rest once whichever supplier is first delivers.

They are talking friendly about 'helping us' But we read the reports of plant closures and we remember who closed them. Being an artificially induced storm makes it no better.

They just don't seem to realise that their customers will remember....

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Old 18th Jul 2019, 7:02 pm   #12
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Default Re: SMD capacitors X5R, X7R or Y5V

I'd use foil and solid state electrolytics whereever possible, but those might be too large.

Yageo is also a good manufacturer of ceramic SMD caps (former Philips Components types and new ones), but I don't know about availability.

Is Suntan also taking part in the supply storm / cartel? In my opinion they are the oldest and most reliable Chinese supplier.
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