Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast

Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast Trailer Bonus Episode 141 Season 1

EP#141: It Depends – An In Depth Look at MLCCs with James Lewis

EP#141: It Depends – An In Depth Look at MLCCs with James LewisEP#141: It Depends – An In Depth Look at MLCCs with James Lewis

00:00
  • James Lewis
    • Our guest this week may or may not be an Engineer or may or may not have Hair!
    • James Lewis’ passion for teaching non-engineers has led to him to create the Bald Engineer Blog and the AddOhms video tutorial series
    • With 15 years of experience in electronics, marketing, sales, and teaching James boils seemingly difficult concepts down to the core, so that anyone can learn what they need to finish that next great project
    • Worked at Agilent as an FAE for oscilloscopes (for about 10 years), then as an FAE and marketing at KEMET for about 7 years
    • Now working as oscilloscope product manager at Rohde and Schwarz
  • MLCC - Multi - Layer Ceramic Capacitors
    • Where did all the MLCCs go? 
      • Looking back, it was obvious we were headed towards a shortage but companies didn’t see it coming
    • What are they?
    • Common uses?
    • 4 ways Ceramics lose capacitance 
      • Temperature
      • Tolerance
      • DC Bias
      • Aging effect
    • What to consider when choosing an alternative dielectric/technology for capacitors
  • Questions from the Slack Channel
    • Insights into selecting bootstrap caps for high-frequency, high-voltage H-bridges
    • What footprint should we be designing with, going forward? Presumably different sizes for decoupling vs bulk on the power inputs for getting different ESRs?
    • Is MLCC cracking due to pcb flex something that still gets seen in 0402 and below?
    • General rules of thumb on choosing appropriate packages based upon desired voltage rating and capacitance?
    • What *is* the fundamental physical mechanism behind this voltage-dependent capacitance drop? 
    • Why does the Y5V dielectric exist?
  • Notes
Tags: AddOhms, Agilent, Bald Engineer, DC Bias, electronics podcast, FAE, Flexing, Hair care tips and tricks, James Lewis, Kemet, MacroFab, macrofab engineering podcast, MEP, MLCC, Multi-Later Ceramic Capacitors, Murata, Rohde and Schwarz, Y5V

Creators & Guests

Host
Parker Dillmann
A Founder @MacroFab.Builds Electronics, Cars, & Jeeps.
Host
Stephen Kraig
EE
CM
Producer
Chris Martin
Guest
James Lewis
Electronics content creator. Videos for @AddOhms. Writer for @hacksterio news. aka KN6FGY and baldengineer@qoto.org.

What is Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast?

Dive into the electrifying world of electrical engineering with Circuit Break, a MacroFab podcast hosted by Parker Dillmann and Stephen Kraig. This dynamic duo, armed with practical experience and a palpable passion for tech, explores the latest innovations, industry news, and practical challenges in the field. From DIY project hurdles to deep dives with industry experts, Parker and Stephen's real-world insights provide an engaging learning experience that bridges theory and practice for engineers at any stage of their career.

Whether you're a student eager to grasp what the job market seeks, or an engineer keen to stay ahead in the fast-paced tech world, Circuit Break is your go-to. The hosts, alongside a vibrant community of engineers, makers, and leaders, dissect product evolutions, demystify the journey of tech from lab to market, and reverse engineer the processes behind groundbreaking advancements. Their candid discussions not only enlighten but also inspire listeners to explore the limitless possibilities within electrical engineering.

Presented by MacroFab, a leader in electronics manufacturing services, Circuit Break connects listeners directly to the forefront of PCB design, assembly, and innovation. MacroFab's platform exemplifies the seamless integration of design and manufacturing, catering to a broad audience from hobbyists to professionals.

About the hosts: Parker, an expert in Embedded System Design and DSP, and Stephen, an aficionado of audio electronics and brewing tech, bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the show. Their backgrounds in engineering and hands-on projects make each episode a blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and practical advice.

Join the conversation and community at our online engineering forum, where we delve deeper into each episode's content, gather your feedback, and explore the topics you're curious about. Subscribe to Circuit Break on your favorite podcast platform and become part of our journey through the fascinating world of electrical engineering.