Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:01:51 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Tantalum capacitors to stop blinking temp LED
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4AC139A0.2060302@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:33 PM 9/28/2009, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>16 volts should work fine in an automobile. Tantalum not needed, general
>purpose aluminum electrolytic is quite acceptable.

However the ones you point to are only rated -40C to 85C...I think
you'd want at least 105C, maybe 125C if it's mounted inside the
engine compartment, and the low temp rating is marginal
too.  Aluminum caps survive poorly when run hotter than their rating
(50% lifetime reduction per 10F is what I recently read), and I don't
imagine they like being frozen, either.  Since the tantalums don't
contain wet electrolyte they don't mind either heat or cold as much
as aluminums.  Here's one that I think would be preferable:
<http://mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kemet/T355G226M020AT/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvYDzv5pG7654NsQWJgSSEO7cXO0Gu2g28%3d>

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