Re: box vs film caps (if that even makes sense)

Posted by Muadzin on
URL: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/box-vs-film-caps-if-that-even-makes-sense-tp25024p25066.html

ham_phist wrote

Hey all,

In doing some looking at components and stuff, as well as looking at some different layouts, I am wondering when does one opt for the poly "box" type caps vs the "greenies" or other similar shinier, round type film caps? How do I know which to use when looking at a layout?

Thx
Randy

below 1nf, ceramics
below 33nf, greenie film caps
up to 1uf unpolarized, box caps or multilayered ceramics
1uf polarized to 10uf tantalum, above that electrolytics

Mostly its about cost, as mlcc's are so cheap. Plus they take almost no space at all, as greenies from 33n onwards and box caps above 470n start getting bigger and bigger. For polarized caps I prefer tantalums as electrolytics tend to degrade more with time, but even there cost is a limiting factor as the values get bigger. Plus its harder to get high voltage tantalums in higher values.