What are the top capacitor and resistor brands ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: drakejest
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 02:25:48 pm
content: Hello,I just recently followed david on his youtube channel and noticed that he seem to be particular about capacitor brands. I am attempting in building a fairly high end 24bit ADC circuit and would like the best for my circuit. Its not for mass production anyway so i dont mind the extra few $$$ on digi-key.Im mostly talking about ceramic capacitors in the 603,805, and 1206 packages. Aside from their temp coeff ratings (NPO or X7R) which brands should i pick ? so far i heard him say Panasonics and Nippon Chemi-con are good brands, which one is better do they still apply to ceramics(only heard him say it on electrolytics) ?Same for resistos which brands are the good ones? KOA on digi-key seems to offer the most features (anti - sulfure, moisture resistant) but i dont know about the other brands that they dont just list those feeatuers on theirs too thankss. !

author: Vovk_Z
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 02:49:20 pm
content: There are different seriens inside each brand. One series suites best for some work, other not. So it is very hard and un-productive to talk about a 'brand'.

author: drakejest
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 03:08:47 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on July 26, 2020, 02:37:21 pmseems like i just entered a rabbit hole with that question. the circuit i will be making would still be the first prototype so i pretty much dont have a list of problem YET (as they will probably show themselves after i assemble it).Right now these two applications are the most relevant in the project i am doing. Fist would be just general decoupling of IC, an application that does not much and i would even guess that even the shittiest capacitor will still do, what brands(or series) would be the creme of the crop for this application. I guess what i would like it to last longThe second application would be filter capacitors for a 24 bit differential ADCADS121M08, i do have to apologies that i cant give a schematic yet, its because im still looking for a buffer IC to pair with the ADC. This also will be my fist 24bit adc circuit so i do know yet what capacitor related problems might occur.When i choose i just really go to digi key and sort via values, package and temp coeff ratings, after that i just look at the which one has the lowest tolerance and the highest voltage rating. Thats it , what i hope to gain from this question would be to atleast add an additional criteria that helps me choose the better part

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 03:13:05 pm
content: There are also reliability differences between different detailed constructions of MLCCs, but I don't know of a reliable reference to find recommendations. In my work, we got burned once by cheap MLCC bypass capacitors, where one shorted unit would take down the whole power rail, and it was a nuisance to locate the defective part. I don't know the manufacturer, since we had bought the cheapest available from a vendor.

author: drakejest
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 10:32:16 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on July 26, 2020, 03:13:05 pmI could totally understand what a pain to look for a broken cap, especially if show no sign physical damage. Do you think you can recommend me the brands that have worked great for you so far?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 10:48:12 pm
content: The problem I mentioned was with "no-name" capacitors supplied by a vendor, only against the specifications of value, voltage, package, and dielectric.With "real" brands such as AVX, Kemet, Murata, etc., we did not have such a problem. However, they are more expensive. One problem with SMD capacitors is that they are almost never marked, while resistors often have at least a resistance value marked.

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 11:15:31 pm
content: I an not quite sure how they justify a 100dB DNR ADC as 24 bit, but whatever.C0G are basically electrically blameless, I like Murata/TDK/Kemet, or if feeling flush and wanting low values, ATC porcelain parts have some nice features.Murata have a spectacularly useful 100nF 1% C0G in 1206 that is IMHO just perfect for audio filters and the like at low impedances (Yea, 100nF!, C0G!, it was a good day when that came out).....X5R and X7R are class II dielectrics, use for decoupling only, and even then not on critical reference rails, NOTE, you need to read the real datasheet for which ever parts you are using, especially in smaller packages the reduction in rated capacitance can be a proper shocker, think well over 50%, and they also suffer with time and temperature, Y5V parts are usually even worse! All the proper vendors have tools for this, Murata for example has their simsurfing tool that tells you what they parts will really do, but all the top tier have this data available.Murata, TDK, Vishay (In there many forms), Kemet, are all top tier vendors for MLCCs, (Add ATC if RF is your thing, and CDW if you want high voltage and mica parts), but as always READ the datasheets of the series you are planning to use (Normally there is a short form one that the distributors have and a more serious one on the vendors web site).Be careful about physically large MLCCs especially if hand soldering, and read the app notes about board flex and cracking in MLCC parts, some variation on 'soft term' can be worth the extra expense if you must go 1206 or bigger.For electrolytics everyone has a view, I like Panasonic, CDW, Chemi-con, but you MUST read the datasheets and do the lifetime calculations (The equation for which does actually vary from part to part).If doing real precision it is worth mentioning that resistors are NOT blameless, and in particular that thick film SMD parts can have a disturbing voltage coefficient, thin film are generally better that way.