Capacitor Temperature Coefficients and Tolerances

Ceramic Capacitors (disc or chip) have temperature coefficients attached to the description and usually coded into the part number. These are 3 digit representations like Z5U and X7R. Each digit has a meaning, representing in total, the operating temperature range, over which to what maximum percentage one can expect the capacitance value to change.

Additonally, tolerance codes are stated representing the percentage of accuracy of the stated capacitance value.

Below are two charts showing E.I.A. (Electronic Industries Association) Temperature Coefficients and Tolerances.

E.I.A. TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENTS
Note: Does not apply to temperature compensating types such as NPO, COG, N150, N750, SL, etc.

1st Letter = Low end operating temperature
X= -55°C (-67°F);  Y= -30°C (-22°F); Z= +10°C (+50°F)

2nd Digit = High end operating temperature
2= +45°C (+113°F); 4= +65°C (+149°F); 5= +85°C (+185°F)
6=+105°C (+221°F); 7=+125°C (+257°F)

3rd Letter = Maximum Capacitance change
D= ±3.3%; E= ±4.7%; F= ±7.5%; P= ±10%; R= ±15%; S= ±22%
T= +22 to -33%; U= +22 to -56%; V= +22 to -82%

Examples:
Z5U: Operating Temperature  +10°C to +85°C.  Max. Capacitance Change - +22% to -56%.
X7R: Operating Temperature  -55°C to +125°C.  Max. Capacitance Change - ±15%

E.I.A. TOLERANCE CODES

BC= ±.02%; A= ±.05%; B= ±.1%; C= ±.25%; D= ±.5%
F= ±1%; G= ±2%; J= ±5%; K= ±10%; M= ±20%

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