Circuit Break Podcast #434

The Other VCC

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June 7, 2024, Episode #434

In this episode, Parker and Stephen dive into the intricacies of capacitor selection, discussing various types of capacitors, their properties, and how different factors affect their performance. They also touch on the new custom bare PCB service offered by MacroFab. The episode is rich with technical details, tips for selecting capacitors, and practical advice for engineers.

Key Discussion Points

  • Introduction to the new custom bare PCB service by MacroFab
  • Detailed explanation of capacitor types: Class 1 and Class 2
  • Importance of voltage coefficient of capacitance (VCC)
  • Challenges in selecting capacitors for different applications
  • Comparison between different capacitor sizes and their effects
  • Tips for avoiding edge cases in capacitor selection
  • Explanation of how barium titanate affects capacitor performance
  • Murata's Sim Surfing tool for capacitor data
  • Impact of capacitor choice on manufacturing and performance
  • Best practices for selecting capacitors in design projects

Relevant Links

Community Questions

  • What are your thoughts on the voltage coefficient of capacitance (VCC) and its impact on capacitor selection?
  • How do you handle the challenges of selecting capacitors for your projects?
  • Have you used Murata's Sim Surfing tool for capacitor data? If so, how has it helped you?

MacroFab

This show is brought to you by MacroFab, which provides a platform for electronics manufacturing services (EMS), hardware development, designing and prototyping for individuals, startups, and businesses. Key MacroFab services include PCB (Printed Circuit Board) fabrication, assembly, and testing. Customers can use MacroFab's platform to upload their PCB designs, select components, and specify manufacturing requirements.

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Subscribe to Circuit Break wherever you get your podcasts! And join our online discussion hub at forum.macrofab.com to keep the conversation going with electrical engineering experts and experimenters! You can also email us at podcast@macrofab.com.

Capacitor Comparison - Voltage Coefficient

Capacitor Comparison - Voltage Coefficient

About the Hosts

Parker Dillmann
  Parker Dillmann

Parker is an Electrical Engineer with backgrounds in Embedded System Design and Digital Signal Processing. He got his start in 2005 by hacking Nintendo consoles into portable gaming units. The following year he designed and produced an Atari 2600 video mod to allow the Atari to display a crisp, RF fuzz free picture on newer TVs. Over a thousand Atari video mods where produced by Parker from 2006 to 2011 and the mod is still made by other enthusiasts in the Atari community.

In 2006, Parker enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin as a Petroleum Engineer. After realizing electronics was his passion he switched majors in 2007 to Electrical and Computer Engineering. Following his previous background in making the Atari 2600 video mod, Parker decided to take more board layout classes and circuit design classes. Other areas of study include robotics, microcontroller theory and design, FPGA development with VHDL and Verilog, and image and signal processing with DSPs. In 2010, Parker won a Ti sponsored Launchpad programming and design contest that was held by the IEEE CS chapter at the University. Parker graduated with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Spring of 2012.

In the Summer of 2012, Parker was hired on as an Electrical Engineer at Dynamic Perception to design and prototype new electronic products. Here, Parker learned about full product development cycles and honed his board layout skills. Seeing the difficulties in managing operations and FCC/CE compliance testing, Parker thought there had to be a better way for small electronic companies to get their product out in customer's hands.

Parker also runs the blog, longhornengineer.com, where he posts his personal projects, technical guides, and appnotes about board layout design and components.

Stephen Kraig
  Stephen Kraig

Stephen Kraig is a component engineer working in the aerospace industry. He has applied his electrical engineering knowledge in a variety of contexts previously, including oil and gas, contract manufacturing, audio electronic repair, and synthesizer design. A graduate of Texas A&M, Stephen has lived his adult life in the Houston, TX, and Denver, CO, areas.

Stephen has never said no to a project. From building guitar amps (starting when he was 17) to designing and building his own CNC table to fine-tuning the mineral composition of the water he uses to brew beer, he thrives on testing, experimentation, and problem-solving. Tune into the podcast to learn more about the wacky stuff Stephen gets up to.

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About MacroFab

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Experience the future of EMS manufacturing with our state-of-the-art technology platform and cutting-edge digital supply chain solutions. At MacroFab, we ensure that your electronics are produced faster, more efficiently, and with fewer logistic problems than ever before.

Take advantage of AI-enabled sourcing opportunities and employ expert teams who are connected through a user-friendly technology platform. Discover how streamlined electronics manufacturing can benefit your business by contacting us today.