Re: Samxon capacitor quality discussion (spin-off from OCZ Bug Zapper thread)
I think the electrolyte has the biggest ramifications on the overall reliability, longevity, construction, and chemistry of an electrolytic. This is how series that otherwise are comprised of high quality materials - like KZG and KZJ - are so notorious for failure that they bulge in storage.
Actually, Rubycon ZL was the first major evolution in low ESR capacitors. Rubycon ZL (and ZA) went into production in 1998, and Chemi-con KY, KZE, and KZG all went into production in 2001, around the same time (and Nichicon HD and HC in early 1999, particularly in the nylon laminated Pb-free cases coated with lacquer and whose lead wires are CP tinned).
Rubycon was the first company to find the proper mixture of inhibitors to suppress the aggressiveness of electrolytic solutions that contain a relatively high amount of H2O content. ZL uses ethylene glycol (an organic solvent) as its solvent and ammonium salts as its solution, working out to roughly 40% H2O content. Rubycon's ZL series was shown to have conductivity in the electrolyte that triples that of previous low ESR series (such as YXG).
The most bizarre part about that is that UCC claims that KY, KZE, KZG, KZA, and KZJ all use the same electrolyte technology in their datasheets. KZH is said to use a "unique water base electrolyte" and that's it. So either they pushed the electrolyte too far with KZG and KZJ or Chemi-con are unable to control the aggressiveness of their electrolyte when the concentration of H2O reaches a certain threshold (you need to increase the water content or the amount of ions in the electrolyte in order to increase conductivity).
Only the 1500uF 6.3V Nichicon HDs in 8x20 case sizes are known to be unreliable. All other HDs, no matter their case sizes, are good IMO. I think some early HDs and HCs were known to fail because they lack the sleeve and that increases their heat dissipation quite a bit.
Yup, Rubycon ZLs are almost bullet proof.
Panasonic FF is actually the direct across to KZE grade capacitors, FM is a bit lower ESR I think. Panasonic FF is known to be reliable despite only being a 2,000 hour series.
Yes. It's certainly strange how WG seems to be more reliable, but WF is definitely worse.
Samxon GK is actually the equivalent. Known to be unreliable.
Presumably both, but I think the electrolyte is the biggest factor, as stated above.
His torture test results were certainly intriguing, but they don't really reflect how these series perform under real world conditions.
Originally posted by mockingbird
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Let's focus on KZE-class series. I've read recently that that was the first major evolution in low ESR caps, in that it employs an aqueous electrolyte, but is stabilized with a proprietary formula. Let's examine some of the contenders:
Rubycon was the first company to find the proper mixture of inhibitors to suppress the aggressiveness of electrolytic solutions that contain a relatively high amount of H2O content. ZL uses ethylene glycol (an organic solvent) as its solvent and ammonium salts as its solution, working out to roughly 40% H2O content. Rubycon's ZL series was shown to have conductivity in the electrolyte that triples that of previous low ESR series (such as YXG).
UCC KZE - Reliable, very few reports of failure (and only then under extreme conditions). Do not bulge in storage
Nichicon HD - Also reliable, but 8mm variants have been found to bulge in storage
Rubycon ZL - As reliable as KZE. No known reports of any bizarre failures
Panasonic FM - As reliable as KZE, perhaps even superior
Sanyo WX - Not as reliable as KZE, sensitive to heat?
Samxon SH/SK - Do these even exist? The only Samxon capacitors I ever see in equipment are high-voltage primaries or dud series like GF. Someone should open up their X-CON polymers and compare them to UCC parts.
Now the question is, when does a KZE-class cap hold up better? When the aluminum is purer, or when the electrolyte is more stable? In an aqueous cap, I would assume that the electrolyte is more important. But non-aqueous series like PW/LXZ/FC class knock-offs might hold up better with purer aluminum, even if the electrolyte is less stable.
So it's not that simple. It's a shame Pete from CA isn't that active here anymore. I'm sure he'd have some great insight on this.
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