Are Parallel smaller caps better/worse than big?

Arx · 9th November 2003, 07:28 PM

After a quick search, I'm almost afraid to say the word capacitor,

but what are the advantages and disadvantages to parallelling many small capacitors, as opposed to using one large one.

eg) a bunch of .68uF caps in series to make a 10uF coupling cap, or 1 10uF one.

How about being used as PSU Bypass?

Has anyone done any MEASUREMENTS?

I've heard that ESR is improved. Is esr typically very nonlinear w/ respect to frequency, or could it easily be accounted for?

Nobody suggest listening tests please. While I don't deny that there are many things we can hear, that may be difficult to measure, etc.. I don't want to do a lot of screwing around at the moment. If such and such set up sounds best to you, that's fine. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I want to see the numbers.
SO, quantifiable answers only please.

sorry to be so long winded about that, but I just spent almost 2 hours reading through what basicly amounted to flame wars based on facts that should easily have been measured.

peranders · 9th November 2003, 08:04 PM

+ Better electrical performance
+ Higher current capability
+ Better cooling

- Bigger, larger physical volume
- Costs more
- More work to connect every capacitor

Richard C · 9th November 2003, 08:28 PM

Don't always assume that many smaller caps will be better than a few larger ones. 10x 220uF caps in parallel will have lower ESR than a single 2200uF. however, 2x 2200uF will have even lower ESR, twice the capacitance and take up less board space.

Matttcattt · 9th November 2003, 09:41 PM

look at this section in one rod elliot's articles: http://sound.westhost.com/power-supp...apacitor-value

fdegrove · 9th November 2003, 10:54 PM

Hi,

Quote:

+ Better electrical performance

+ Possibly lower total ESR.

Quote:

- More work to connect every capacitor

- Possibly higher total lead inductance.

Cheers,

9th November 2003, 07:28 PM	#1
Arx diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: North Vancouver, B.C.	Are Parallel smaller caps better/worse than big? After a quick search, I'm almost afraid to say the word capacitor, but what are the advantages and disadvantages to parallelling many small capacitors, as opposed to using one large one. eg) a bunch of .68uF caps in series to make a 10uF coupling cap, or 1 10uF one. How about being used as PSU Bypass? Has anyone done any MEASUREMENTS? I've heard that ESR is improved. Is esr typically very nonlinear w/ respect to frequency, or could it easily be accounted for? Nobody suggest listening tests please. While I don't deny that there are many things we can hear, that may be difficult to measure, etc.. I don't want to do a lot of screwing around at the moment. If such and such set up sounds best to you, that's fine. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I want to see the numbers. SO, quantifiable answers only please. sorry to be so long winded about that, but I just spent almost 2 hours reading through what basicly amounted to flame wars based on facts that should easily have been measured.

9th November 2003, 08:04 PM	#2
peranders Electrons are yellow diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 3	+ Better electrical performance + Higher current capability + Better cooling - Bigger, larger physical volume - Costs more - More work to connect every capacitor __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me BPA300 Group Buy Round 4, SMD-kit and DRV134 pcb. Not too late to sign up. Sign up HERE

9th November 2003, 09:41 PM	#4
Matttcattt diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bristol	look at this section in one rod elliot's articles: http://sound.westhost.com/power-supp...apacitor-value __________________ If it aint broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, fix it. If you can't fix it, take it apart and see how it "worked".

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9th November 2003, 08:28 PM	#3
Richard C diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottingham, England	Don't always assume that many smaller caps will be better than a few larger ones. 10x 220uF caps in parallel will have lower ESR than a single 2200uF. however, 2x 2200uF will have even lower ESR, twice the capacitance and take up less board space.

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