Low ESR capacitors and high operating temperatures

KT · 24th September 2005, 03:33 PM

So I just found out that low ESR caps are designed to run at a high temperatures to achieve their low ESR. Is this right?

I was concerned that the filtering caps in my Scott Nixon TubeDac+ were running so hot. He emailed me back that they're supposed to; they're low ESR types. I never realized this before.

I supposed the datasheet will tell me, but do these caps have a significantly shorter life with all that heat, or has this been taken account of?

Also, I like to take the plastic off of my caps. Any take on whether the cooling effect of this significatly affects performance? Obviously, the ESR will rise a bit with the cooling, but by enough to affect sonics?

Thanks,
KT

Sch3mat1c · 24th September 2005, 06:45 PM

I don't know the typical tempco of a capacitor ESR but I imagine it is positive like most materials. I don't know what kind of BS this guy is on but capacitors are not supposed to get hot, period.

Tim

Vidalgo · 24th September 2005, 08:12 PM

Heat shorts el.capacitors life, but how much heating is possible, without significant impact?
For example, Alex Nikitin use in headphone amp "Amber" an ELNA Starget caps on output (output is SE). He run them at about 60-65 deg.C, with special heating resistor closed to capacitor body. Alex claim, such method is suitable for lowering capacitor's distortions without significant shortening it's life.

24th September 2005, 03:33 PM	#1
KT diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA	Low ESR capacitors and high operating temperatures So I just found out that low ESR caps are designed to run at a high temperatures to achieve their low ESR. Is this right? I was concerned that the filtering caps in my Scott Nixon TubeDac+ were running so hot. He emailed me back that they're supposed to; they're low ESR types. I never realized this before. I supposed the datasheet will tell me, but do these caps have a significantly shorter life with all that heat, or has this been taken account of? Also, I like to take the plastic off of my caps. Any take on whether the cooling effect of this significatly affects performance? Obviously, the ESR will rise a bit with the cooling, but by enough to affect sonics? Thanks, KT

24th September 2005, 06:45 PM	#2
Sch3mat1c diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI	I don't know the typical tempco of a capacitor ESR but I imagine it is positive like most materials. I don't know what kind of BS this guy is on but capacitors are not supposed to get hot, period. Tim __________________ See my Electronics webpage -- the home of Vacuum Tube Drag Racing. The key to being a successful Audiophile: "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

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24th September 2005, 08:12 PM	#3
Vidalgo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Jerusalem	Heat shorts el.capacitors life, but how much heating is possible, without significant impact? For example, Alex Nikitin use in headphone amp "Amber" an ELNA Starget caps on output (output is SE). He run them at about 60-65 deg.C, with special heating resistor closed to capacitor body. Alex claim, such method is suitable for lowering capacitor's distortions without significant shortening it's life.

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