Capacitor Testing Procedures

All capacitors are tested for dielectric strength on a 100% basis prior to shipment. Upon
customer request, certified test reports may be made available.

Dielectric strength is tested by using a low current, high potential source of 60Hz voltage.

Capacitors for applications involving applied DC voltage should be tested on a DC dielectric

strength meter for voltage and emission current. Jennings will test capacitors to this measure if
specified by the customer.

Most users will find the 60 Hz dielectric strength test adequate and relatively inexpensive.
Jennings does not recommend DC testing being performed by the user because of safety
considerations. If DC testing is performed, care should be taken not to exceed 60% of the peak
test voltage rating of the capacitor.

Testing Procedure-Apply 60 Hz current-limited voltage across the capacitor. One side may be
grounded if desired.

Increase voltage gradually. The rate of increase should be from zero to maximum voltage in one
minute. Normal test procedure requires that the capacitor be able to withstand the full rated
voltage without barnacles occurring after the first minute at the test voltage. A barnacle is a self-
healing, non-sustained, momentary breakdown. Weak barnacles that instantly heal are
disregarded during the first minute. Under no condition should the test voltage be exceeded.

A slight white or blue fluorescence in glass units is normal in room light. This type of
fluorescence is not harmful, nor unusual, as various materials used in the capacitors may tend
to fluoresce under high electric fields (such as uranium glass). Capacitors that have not been
used for a long time may initially fluoresce.

Arc Detectors-In extremely critical circuit applications, some form of arc detection is necessary.
An oscilloscope may be connected across the capacitor to show weak electron discharges,
waveform distortion, evidence of strong DC emission currents, or corona. The Jennings type
Model J-1005 portable RF voltmeter is ideal for arc detection and voltage measurement of this
nature, since it has a voltage range of 0 to 50 kV and oscilloscope connections with a step-
down ratio; of approximately 600 to 1. The voltmeter has a frequency response of 60 Hz to 30
MHz at full rated voltage with an accuracy of ±3% of full scale.

Another form of arc detection may be improvised by using a small neon lamp with one terminal
connected to the hot side of the capacitor under test and the other terminal of the lamp floating.
The lamp will flash when the capacitor arcs. A contact microphone and audio amplifier
connected to the base of the stand-off insulator supporting the capacitor under test makes a
very sensitive arc detector.

The Effect of Voltage On Vacuum Capacitors

Two voltage ratings are given in our product spec sheets: Peak Test Voltage and RF Working
Voltage. Ratings at 60 Hz are applicable at 50 Hz.

Peak Test Voltage is the maximum 60 Hz voltage that can be applied to the capacitor without
breakdown occurring, as indicated by either internal or external arc-over. Capacitors are tested
at this voltage as a means of determining the general condition of the capacitor. Such a test is
frequently used by customers in incoming inspection to check for damage in transit.

RF Working Voltage is the maximum peak RF voltage that can be applied continuously to the
capacitor without affecting its ability to withstand instantaneous overloads. It is generally 60% of
the Peak Test Voltage rating. The difference between the 60 Hz and the RF working voltage
values is the recommended operating safety factor.

For variable capacitors, the voltage rating is essentially constant from maximum capacity to a
point near minimum capacity, where it increases significantly. Within the normal accuracy of
instrumentation (3%), voltage ratings should not be exceeded. Jennings RF testing facilities
monitor the above characteristics on a production basis; and, in addition, can do special
application testing when required.

DC—Vacuum capacitors should not be operated in DC applications above the peak RF working
voltage.

DC plus RF—For DC plus RF applications, the sum of the DC plus the peak RF voltage should
not exceed the peak RF working voltage.

Capacitors for DC plus RF applications are tested for dc emission on a dielectric strength tester.
To meet Jennings Quality Assurance standards, the DC emission current must not exceed ten
microamps at the rated working voltage.

Amplitude Modulation—The peak output power of an AM transmitter which is 100% sine wave
modulated is 4.0 times the unmodulated carrier power. The peak RF voltage will be twice that of
the unmodulated carrier and the capacitor should have a RF working voltage rating equal to or
greater than this voltage.

Vacuum Capacitors in Parallel

When two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the inductance of the connecting
conductors acting with the capacitors form a tuned circuit.

In high current circuits, it is normal to parallel two or more vacuum capacitors. Care must be
taken, due to the low loss of the vacuum capacitors and the heavy copper straps paralleling the
capacitors, to ensure that the frequency of this series high-Q resonant circuit is above the
operating frequency. If the frequency of the series resonant circuit were allowed to become
equal to the operating frequency, high currents could be generated which would result in
damage to the capacitor.

All vacuum capacitors have inductance within the connections (Figure 3), the incidental tuned
circuit of two 1000 pF capacitors in parallel can be kept well above 30 MHz. At low capacities of
50 to 100 pF, the resonant frequency can be kept well above 100 MHz.
Figure 4 is a graph of resonant frequency vs. capacity of two CVEP-2000 ceramic capacitors
with both standard and low inductance connections. The resonant frequency of the resulting 20
MHz to 135 MHz from a maximum to minimum capacity.

This pair of vacuum capacitors would operate in the plate tank of a high powered 2-30 MHz
transmitter with no difficulty. At the low frequency, maximum capacity would be used and the
incidental resonance within the tank capacitors would be several times the operating frequency.
At the high frequency, minimum capacity would be used and the high frequency, minimum
capacity would be used and the incidental resonance would have increased until it was still
several times the operating frequency.

The physical size of the components in a high power 30 MHz final amplifier may cause
problems because of added stray inductance.

This stray inductance of a plate blocking capacitor and its straps for shunt feed is often as great
as the desired tank inductance. The output capacitance of the tube (frequently over 100 pF), the
plate tank tuning capacitor, and the stray inductance associated with the plate blocking
capacitor make an incidental tuned circuit that could be marginal to the overall circuit (Figure 5).
In circuit Figure 5A the blocking capacitor at high frequencies and high power may be required
to carry very heavy current. By using the circuit of Figure 5D, the plate tank capacitor can be
connected adjacent to the plate (less stray inductance) and become more effective. The plate
blocking capacitor is moved closer to the antenna circuit. While more blocking capacity is
required in Figure 5D than in the circuit of Figure 5A, it only has to carry the output load current.
However, the plate tank tuning capacitors will have the DC plate voltage applied to them in
addition to the RF voltage. A capacitor with DC voltage capability should be specified when
ordering units for these applications. The peak RF working voltage should be equal to the sum
of the applied DC and the peak RF voltage.

The plate blocking capacitor in a shunt fed RF amplifier sees the DC plate voltage plus the peak
modulating voltage plus a small amount of RF voltage. At higher frequencies and powers it will
usually see high RF currents as well.

Current
The current rating given in the tables of our spec sheets is the
maximum current the vacuum capacitor at maximum working
voltage capacity can handle continuously under normal
convection cooling at an ambient temperature of 25°C.

Accurate measurements of RF currents and temperatures at

specific frequencies and various capacity settings have been
made. In the interests of simplicity, the operating temperature
was allowed to vary a few degrees over the capacity range so
that a single current rating could be provided at a given
frequency.

The "RMS Amperes vs. Frequency" Curves, based upon

maximum allowable current, are independent of voltage.
Operating current for a given working voltage can be
determined by Ohm's Law or the nomograph (see Nomograph
diagram). In those instances where current ratings deviate
from the normal, I(rms) = (.707) (Ew) (2pfC), as in the case of
some glass vacuum capacitors, curves for maximum working
voltage are provided. The slope of these curves will provide
general guidance for determining operating curves for lower
voltage/capacity relationships.

Pulse Ratings-Continuous RF current ratings may be

exceeded for short periods if the working voltage rating is not
exceeded. This applies particularly to pulse and peaks-of-
modulation applications. Momentary currents may exceed the
catalog continuous current rating by a factor of the square
root of the duty cycle, provided the working voltage is not
exceeded.

Amplitude Modulation Ratings-Capacitors in AM service

must be able to withstand peaks-of-modulation voltage and
current.

Current ratings are based on temperature so the heating

effects of the modulated currents determine the capacitor
requirements.

The average output power of an AM transmitter which is

100% sine wave modulated is 1.5 times the unmodulated
carrier power. The average modulated carrier current is 1.225
times the unmodulated carrier current, therefore a capacitor
current rating of 1.2 times the carrier current will be sufficient
even though the peaks-of-modulation currents are twice the
carrier current.

Forced Cooling-If higher current ratings are required,

capacitors are available with forced-air cooled bellows to
operate safely at 200% of the convection cooled rating.
Water-cooled capacitors are also available which are normally
limited only by voltage.

Typical water cooling figures are 3.5 gallons per minute at 15

psig, the high pressure being necessary to prevent steam
pockets from forming in the bellows convolutions. Detailed
water-cooling specifications are available (see your local
Jennings representative).

On standard convection cooled capacitors current rating may

be exceeded for short periods of time, providing the rated
temperature rise is not exceeded. Under no conditions should
the current exceed 150 % of convection current rating.

Fixed capacitors can carry more current because they have

shorter RF impedance path. Fixed capacitor current ratings
may be increased by forced air cooling up to voltage
limitations.