Datasheet

LM2598
SNVS125C –MARCH 1998–REVISED APRIL 2013 www.ti.com
The RMS current rating of a capacitor could be viewed as a capacitor's power rating. The RMS current flowing
through the capacitors internal ESR produces power which causes the internal temperature of the capacitor to
rise. The RMS current rating of a capacitor is determined by the amount of current required to raise the internal
temperature approximately 10°C above an ambient temperature of 105°C. The ability of the capacitor to dissipate
this heat to the surrounding air will determine the amount of current the capacitor can safely sustain. Capacitors
that are physically large and have a large surface area will typically have higher RMS current ratings. For a given
capacitor value, a higher voltage electrolytic capacitor will be physically larger than a lower voltage capacitor, and
thus be able to dissipate more heat to the surrounding air, and therefore will have a higher RMS current rating.
Figure 33. RMS Current Ratings for Low
ESR Electrolytic Capacitors (Typical)
Figure 34. Capacitor ESR vs Capacitor Voltage Rating
(Typical Low ESR Electrolytic Capacitor)
The consequences of operating an electrolytic capacitor above the RMS current rating is a shortened operating
life. The higher temperature speeds up the evaporation of the capacitor's electrolyte, resulting in eventual failure.
Selecting an input capacitor requires consulting the manufacturers data sheet for maximum allowable RMS ripple
current. For a maximum ambient temperature of 40°C, a general guideline would be to select a capacitor with a
ripple current rating of approximately 50% of the DC load current. For ambient temperatures up to 70°C, a
current rating of 75% of the DC load current would be a good choice for a conservative design. The capacitor
voltage rating must be at least 1.25 times greater than the maximum input voltage, and often a much higher
voltage capacitor is needed to satisfy the RMS current requirements.
A graph shown in Figure 33 shows the relationship between an electrolytic capacitor value, its voltage rating, and
the RMS current it is rated for. These curves were obtained from the Nichicon “PL” series of low ESR, high
reliability electrolytic capacitors designed for switching regulator applications. Other capacitor manufacturers offer
similar types of capacitors, but always check the capacitor data sheet.
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