I have a project I am building that calls for SMT Tantalum Polymer caps in a 2917 case size, 100uf 25Vdc.
The specified cap is a Kemet T521X107M025ATE060. On Mouser I found a Vishay Polytech equivalent (T55D107M025C0060 ) that is $1.79 ea vs. $4.88 ea. Looking at the datasheets, I haven't spotted anything that would lead me to believe these wouldn't work just as well?
The application is PSU decoupling for a +/-20Vdc PSU.
Any thoughts? I need 8 of them, so cost is somewhat of a driving factor here.
The specified cap is a Kemet T521X107M025ATE060. On Mouser I found a Vishay Polytech equivalent (T55D107M025C0060 ) that is $1.79 ea vs. $4.88 ea. Looking at the datasheets, I haven't spotted anything that would lead me to believe these wouldn't work just as well?
The application is PSU decoupling for a +/-20Vdc PSU.
Any thoughts? I need 8 of them, so cost is somewhat of a driving factor here.
Last edited:
Isn't that a conflict mineral? I stopped using tantalums in years ago for that reason.
Aren't there alternatives?
Aren't there alternatives?
It is, although only a part of it is actually related to the conflicts in eastern Congo. Thanks to the American Dodd-Frank act some manufacturers now at least declare whether their products are conflict mineral free (and provide some evidence to back that up).
The two part #s you provided are exactly the same, so it's hard to tell the difference. But I would not use tantalum caps on anything except for MUSIC PRODUCTION applications (guitar amp, mixing console, etc.) where their particular sound may be of some audible advantage.
Thanks for the replies. I had put the wrong part number for the Vishay-Polytech. It should have been T55D107M025C0060.
This is for a mostly SMT headphone amp (Gilmore mini SS Dynalo), and the tants are what was specified. I hadn't anticipated the obfuscation on the question... perhaps if I had realized that I would have added "the moral quandary" to the title.
Given the many thousands of these used in the automotive and electronics industry, I don't think I'm going to worry about buying 8 of them for this application for which they are functionally and technically a very good fit. I'll take a look at both manufacturers websites; perhaps Kemet charges more for a more moral sourcing of their tantalum.
I was a technician in the '80s for a semiconductor manufacturer, and saw plenty of the old wet tantalums blow up and start on fire, so I used to avoid tants like the plague. However, recent builds have shown them to perform quite well for power bypass duties.
Perhaps a better moral question would be the horribly flawed EU lead study which resulted in ROHS. Arguably, this has contributed to millions of tons of failed consumer electronics clogging landfills. The US military still does not allow lead-free in its equipment, and I don't use the crap either.
This is for a mostly SMT headphone amp (Gilmore mini SS Dynalo), and the tants are what was specified. I hadn't anticipated the obfuscation on the question... perhaps if I had realized that I would have added "the moral quandary" to the title.
Given the many thousands of these used in the automotive and electronics industry, I don't think I'm going to worry about buying 8 of them for this application for which they are functionally and technically a very good fit. I'll take a look at both manufacturers websites; perhaps Kemet charges more for a more moral sourcing of their tantalum.
I was a technician in the '80s for a semiconductor manufacturer, and saw plenty of the old wet tantalums blow up and start on fire, so I used to avoid tants like the plague. However, recent builds have shown them to perform quite well for power bypass duties.
Perhaps a better moral question would be the horribly flawed EU lead study which resulted in ROHS. Arguably, this has contributed to millions of tons of failed consumer electronics clogging landfills. The US military still does not allow lead-free in its equipment, and I don't use the crap either.
> Gilmore mini SS Dynalo
Gilmore may only have been documenting the part he used, not saying it was the only part which could be used. It may be what he or his distributor had in stock.
And the Dynalo is a rather old plan? Maybe the "cheaper" cap came out later than the Dynalo?
Everything is a conflict material. Oil for sure. In wet Maine, water is becoming a no-violence conflict material around Poland Springs' wells, and the new fish-factory on the coast, and many many places in the world. But this verges into Politics, a banned subject. My personal morals hardly quiver at a few Tants.
Gilmore may only have been documenting the part he used, not saying it was the only part which could be used. It may be what he or his distributor had in stock.
And the Dynalo is a rather old plan? Maybe the "cheaper" cap came out later than the Dynalo?
Everything is a conflict material. Oil for sure. In wet Maine, water is becoming a no-violence conflict material around Poland Springs' wells, and the new fish-factory on the coast, and many many places in the world. But this verges into Politics, a banned subject. My personal morals hardly quiver at a few Tants.
Modern tantalum capacitors are much better than there 30 year old forerunners.
I have never seen a modern one go off like those old fire crackers used to.
A reasonably priced item from a branded supplier with a look at the data sheet to be sure will do the job for you.
They are just an industry standard part now.
I have never seen a modern one go off like those old fire crackers used to.
A reasonably priced item from a branded supplier with a look at the data sheet to be sure will do the job for you.
They are just an industry standard part now.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.