Tantalum Polymer vs Aluminum Polymer Performance as an Output Filter Capacitor for Miniature Switching Power Supplies
Written By: Ron Demcko | Ashley Stanziola | Daniel West
Abstract:
Engineers have questioned the impact performance of converting Aluminum Polymer capacitors to Tantalum Polymer capacitors in applications where MLCCs are present on the output filter ‘bank’ of a small switching power supply. The reasons for designers to convert to Tantalum Polymer capacitors in the design ranged from long term reliability and stability to availability/delivery and company specific design guidelines.
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Engineers have questioned the impact performance of converting Aluminum Polymer capacitors to Tantalum Polymer capacitors in applications where MLCCs are present on the output filter ‘bank’ of a small switching power supply. The reasons for designers to convert to Tantalum Polymer capacitors in the design ranged from long term reliability and stability to availability/delivery and company specific design guidelines.
This investigation is intended to compare the interchangeability of Tantalum Polymer Capacitors in a design with the original Aluminum Polymer capacitors. The data collected was the measured output voltage ripple on a highly utilized circuit/chipset under a specific conditions of an end user. Comparisons between Aluminum Polymer Electrolytic and Tantalum Polymer Electrolytic technologies are made.
