[Explanation of the Causes of Capacitor Failure] The characteristics of electrolytic capacitors deteriorate at low temperatures.

The cause is the deterioration of the transient response performance of the output voltage, resulting in the inability to obtain the specified voltage! Here are some countermeasures.

We will introduce a case where a malfunction occurred during a low-temperature operation test of a DCDC converter, resulting in a decrease in output voltage. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor using electrolyte was used in the output section of the DCDC converter. Generally, at low temperatures below -20°C, the electrical conductivity of the electrolyte decreases and its viscosity increases, leading to a reduction in capacitance by several tens of percent, worsening frequency response, and increasing equivalent series resistance. As a result, it was determined that the transient response performance of the output voltage deteriorated, preventing the specified voltage from being achieved. [Countermeasures] - Confirm the capacitance, ESR, impedance, and frequency characteristics of the capacitor at low temperatures, and select an appropriate capacitor. *For more details, please refer to the PDF document or feel free to contact us.

Capacitor