Technology
Our technology roadmap is driven by the strategy of application specific solutions. Rather than develop broad product lines to meet everyone’s needs, SBE has decided to build on the existing Orange Drop® product line of polyester and polypropylene metallized/film-foil film capacitors with technology innovations addressing specific demanding applications which are difficult to solve in the marketplace. In so doing, we have developed solutions which can be tailored directly to a customer’s need rather than forcing a choice among standard products. Experience has shown that we can do so in a very cost competitive manner, usually at best overall value for the customer.
New
technologies
- SBE’s Patented Pulse Film technology is a revolutionary way of controlling the typical failure mechanism of pulse capacitors. The design makes it virtually impossible to “unzip” the way capacitors typically do when overstressed. It can be packaged in radial or axial leaded configurations. After you’ve had a chance to review the documents below, contact us and put us to the test with your most demanding application!
- Corona Discharge is a small but locally intense electrical discharge that injects charge into the insulating film adjacent to edges of foil/metallization or a location where air is trapped between foil/metallization and the film. The discharge is caused by a voltage gradient large enough to ionize molecules in either the film or small air pockets. Each discharge does some small but cumulative damage to the film. Corona is an important consideration for AC and/or pulse applications where the cumulative damage can rapidly accrue and cause dielectric failure.
- Corona Inception Voltage (CIV) is the AC voltage at which the damaging corona discharges start to occur. Obviously, a designer would like to know what voltage that is. He might make the mistake of assuming that the “rated AC voltage” listed in many capacitor company catalogs would be a safe way to do it. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In fact, most capacitor companies don’t have any way of measuring CIV. They infer their ratings of CIV through theoretical design and life testing at certain voltages for a set period of time. If the parts pass (what is defined as “pass” is anyone’s guess) then that becomes the rating.
SBE’s Pulse Technology Overview
Just How Good is SBE’s Patented Pulse Capacitor?
- CIV Testing – SBE actually tests the measured CIV using our proprietary CIV tester. We can actually read the voltage directly while observing the Corona Discharge phenomena. EVERY SBE PART WITH AN AC VOLTAGE RATING RECEIVES PRODUCTION SAMPLE TESTING ABOVE THE AC VOLTAGE RATING TO INSURE THAT IT IS BELOW CIV. We even supply 100% tested for CIV parts for critical applications. Ask your current capacitor supplier how they verify CIV for your AC rated parts. If you are unsatisfied with the answer, then contact us for our recommendation for your application.
More information on our applications and technologies as well as terms definitions.