Everything You Need To Know About Safety Capacitor

Image source: safety capacitors All about circuits

I know I need a capacitor for my electric circuit. But do I  really need a safety capacitor?

As long as you want to be  assured  the safety of your electric circuit, getting a safety electronic component will always be necessary.

Even if it means getting yourself a safety capacitor.

What is it and how does it work?

This article is all about this electronic component.

We are going to discuss everything you should know about  safety capacitors.

You will also learn the tips for buying safety capacitors for sale in China.

What is a safety capacitor?

A safety capacitor is a type of capacitor that is specifically designed to offer protection against the electric shock and current. It lowers these two parameters to ensure that their values meet the ones required by the users and devices.

Ir is called ’safety’ because its primary goal is to ensure  that the users and their properties are always safe when using the capacitor. You probably know what will happen when you  handle high voltage and current.

Apart from adding other safety features and devices, you should consider getting this capacitor to do the job.

Safety capacitors  were developed years ago   and have  evolved to be big names in the field of electric and electronics.

You will find them in both small electronic devices and as well as large industrial devices.

The designers and manufacturers of these capacitors keep various safety hazards in mind when manufacturing these capacitors. These hazards include n shock, heat, water among others.

Also, since different devices have different electric requirements and specifications, it is vital to note that the safety capacitors come in different specifications. Some have a higher capacitance than others.

They are also made of different materials and tend come in different designs.

When put into proper use, you are likely to derive an array of benefits from these capacitors.

What are the functions of safety capacitors

Let’s look at the key functions of a safety capacitor in an electric circuit.

Filtering

In this context, filtering is  the process of  eliminating the unwanted electric noise from an electric circuit.

Usually, this noise comes from the numerous  currents that might have leaked from various cables and even other electronic components.

A safety capacitor is designed to  take care of this current. And by removing this noise, the device or component will operate smoothly.

This  function is common especially in  sensitive devices such as medical instruments.

Voltage stabilization

Voltage stabilization is of great importance in some applications. It is a phenomenon where an electric device is able to deliver constant supply voltage regardless of the incoming voltage

A safety capacitor can help achieve this function of voltage stabilization, especially when you are using AC circuits.

The more stable the voltage the better the performance of an electric device.

Handling surges

These capacitors are designed to provide some surge protection functions. This is possible as they can absorb the transient current coming from an electric current. While doing this,  they will suppress surges of both current and voltage simultaneously.

Power factor correction

Power factor  correction is all about the efficiency of the electric conversion. It is the measure of how electric power is converted  into a more useful output. In most applications, a safety capacitor is integrated into a circuit so as to achieve the ideal power factor correction.

With the correction, you will be able to put the circuit into good use while at the same time minimize wastage of energy.

Protect users from the device

Safety capacitors are also designed to protect users of electric devices from dangers associated with the usage of an electric device.

The capacitor will protect you from the electric shock which is usually associated with the unexpected discharge of electric  current.

Decoupling

Decoupling is vital when you want to isolate two components of electric circuit. It usually comes in handy when you want to protect one component from getting damage or having performance degradation  by the other component supplying the circuit.

Using its various mechanisms, a safety capacitor will help you achieve decoupling in a device, hence protecting the respective components.

With these functions, it is clear why  it is important to integrate a safety capacitor into your device or even application.

Safety capacitor working principle

How do  safety capacitors manage to execute the above functions?

To know this, it will be prudent to know how this type  of capacitor works.

Safety capacitors (both the type X and type Y) work by supplying an instantaneous high-capacity current  to the device that is connected to the power source. In most cases, the capacitors are used in combination with the overvoltage protection devices or surge protectors  whose function is to detect any surge of current in a circuit.

When the voltage in the capacitor hits a specified limit, the capacitor will start discharging at a fast rate so as to restore the voltage of the device to a normalcy. As this happens, the device will be protected from a possible surge or overvoltage.

These capacitors come in different voltage and capacitance ratings that are closely related to the device in question. For example, using a low-rated capacitor means that even in case of voltage surge, it will not react in time to save the device.

Types of safety capacitors

Safety capacitors are divided into two main types. These are the X class safety capacitor and the Y class safety capacitor.

Image source: doEEET

X class safety capacitor

This type is also known as across-the-line capacitor. They derive this name from the fact that they are  designed to be used between the live wire  that is carrying the  AC current.

The X class capacitors are usually used  in applications where an unexpected failure of a capacitor will not cause the electric shock to the user. Instead, the failure of the capacitor will cause a circuit breaker to open.

The X class capacitors are further divided into three subclasses, each with unique set of specifications. These are the X1, X2 and X3 classes.

The X1 subclass has an allowable peak voltage of between 2.5kV to 4kV. The X2 is between  has a maximum peak voltage of up to 2.5kV and the X3 is up to 1.2kV.

The X3 and the X2 are ideal for the  general purpose applications while the X1 class of safety capacitor is ideal for the high pulse applications.

When it comes to the attributes, the X safety capacitors are made of polyester film. They  also have large volumes accompanied by high ripple currents. It also allows large  currents to flow through during the instantaneous charging and discharging of the capacitor.

All X capacitors manufacturers are properly marked with the voltage capacity and other certifications. So, when buying one, take time to check the markings to be sure that it is perfect for your application.

When it comes to the comparison, the X class capacitors generally have higher capacitance than the Y class capacitance.

Y class capacitors

This is another  class that has four subclasses under it. These are the Y1,Y2,Y3 and Y4 safety capacitors.

They are known as the ground capacitors simply because they tend to bypass the AC line. They are ideal in applications  where the unexpected failure of the capacitor can lead to electrical shock especially when the ground connection is lost.

The Y1 safety capacitor has  double insulation and comes with a peak pulse voltage of 8.0kV. On the other hand, the Y2 safety capacitor has a basic / supplementary insulation of up to 5.0kV

Both the Y3 and Y4 have the basic supplementary insulation with the peak pulse voltage of up to 2.5kV.

You can identify the Y capacitors by their orange and blue colors. They also bear the UL and CSA markings. On the performance, they can withstand up to 5000V of DC voltage.

It is advisable to limit the capacitance of the  Y capacitors so as to minimize the leak current flowing through it.

What is the difference between the X capacitors and Y capacitors

After looking at the two types of safety capacitors, there are a few differences that stand out.

First, the X capacitors are designed to inhibit the differential mode interference. On the other hand, the Y capacitors are designed to inhibit the common-mode interference.

Another difference is based on their leak current limitation. X capacitor has a larger than that of Y implying that the capacitance of the former can accommodate more current than that of the latter.

They also differ in terms of the looks. While the Y capacitor is majorly made of the premium ceramics, the X capacitors are made of the polypropylene film material. Both the materials are designed to handle high current and instantaneous voltage.

What about the cost? Well, there there is no difference in the prices of the X and Y capacitors.

Conclusion

Now you know the essentials of the safety capacitors  and the role they play in electric circuits and devices.

In case you would like to but safety capacitors in China, let ICRFQ be your partner. We are a reputable supplier of safety capacitors and even other types of capacitors.

If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:

Electronic Components Distributors In the USA

Electronic Components Distributors In UK

Electronic Components Distributors In China

Electronic Components Distributors In India

Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore

Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia

Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam

Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea

Electronic Components Distributors In Taiwan

Electronic Components Distributors In Hong Kong