Chip Type SMT Electrolytic Capacitors
by.Zezo Mohamed
We can see in the picture
above several silver coloured can capacitors. They all have a black base which
allows them to be placed by machine onto the top of the PCB. Therefore they are
surface mount or SMT capacitors. The manufacturers often call these capacitors
Chip Type.
Unfortunately they are often
mistaken for Polymer capacitors. This is incorrect because polymer capacitors
do not have electrolyte. You can see that the big ones in the photo have K or X
vent stamps. If the capacitors have vents then they are not polymer because the
vents are to allow the gas to escape if the capacitor fails and makes a
chemical reaction inside. The smaller ones do not have vents because their
small construction or different type of electrolyte will not result in a
significant build up of gas when the capacitor fails.
So it is possible that these
capacitors will fail. It is also possible that mishandling of the product may
result in the user breaking the capacitor off the base. That would also require
replacement of the capacitor.
