Sencore-tech-tips-105-understanding-dielectric ABSORPTION – Manual (PDF)

Erik from ManualsPlus — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:52:55 +0000

The manual for Sencore-tech-tips-105 covers the setup and operation of the LC53 Z Meter, which was introduced in 1979 to better understand dielectric absorption (D/A) in capacitors and its impact on circuit reliability. It also provides troubleshooting advice, explaining how D/A can affect various circuits, such as analog to digital converters and sample and hold circuits, and emphasizes the importance of selecting capacitors with low D/A for critical applications.

Brand: Sencore-tech-tips-105-understanding-dielectric
Model: ABSORPTION
Type: manual
File size: 1.6 MB

Manual Overview

The Sencore Tech Tips #105 manual provides an in-depth understanding of dielectric absorption (D/A) in capacitors, highlighting its impact on electronic circuits and troubleshooting methods. Dielectric absorption refers to a capacitor’s inability to fully discharge its stored energy, leading to residual voltage that can affect circuit performance. This phenomenon is particularly critical in circuits requiring precise voltage levels, such as analog-to-digital converters and sample-and-hold circuits, where even a 1% D/A can introduce errors.

The manual explains that D/A worsens with age, making it a useful indicator of a capacitor’s reliability. It discusses different models representing D/A, including parallel storage battery and resistor-capacitor networks, to illustrate its effects. Troubleshooting involves checking for extra DC voltage across capacitors, which may necessitate replacement even if D/A readings are low. The manual emphasizes the importance of selecting capacitors with low D/A for critical applications and suggests using the circuit’s operation as a guide for acceptable D/A levels. It also notes that D/A can increase over time, causing circuit issues, and highlights the role of the Z Meter in identifying D/A-related problems.