SMD Capacitance Hack

Technology
SMD Capacitance Hack

BOi1V8wCcAAu5Cs.jpg-large

Makezine_COTM_Capacitor-BadgeAkiba of Freaklabs, a Tokyo-based open-source electronics kitmaker, needed to add some 0805 surface-mount capacitors to an existing PCB, so he stacked them up!

super ghetto bulk capacitance hack. my RF amp is more power hungry than i expected…

See the related links below for more of Akiba’s awesome work!

14 thoughts on “SMD Capacitance Hack

  1. Jdoughe says:

    Not that amazing, we did this at a company I worked for when they printed the boards wrong. Stacked them 2 high and then overmolded. It was a complete mess.

  2. Jonas says:

    DId that myself last week, with 0402-sized capacitors. No big deal, very simple using a microscope and a good soldering pen.

  3. Simon says:

    Did that in two projects before. You can even buy something like that: http://www.newark.com/kemet/c2220c105mar2ctu/capacitor-ceramic-1uf-250v-x7r/dp/79R5751

  4. Andy in Tucson says:

    That’s fine for a prototype. Not at all for production.
    Seriously, it’s not clear what values he needed but you can buy 0805 caps in values up to 100 uF. Look at Mouser. Lots of parts from which to choose, all in stock, obtainable overnight.

    1. Pat says:

      Highest voltage caps get pretty low voltage, fast. A 100 uF 0805 is 6.3V max (in tantalum). Stacking lower capacitance caps gets you a high capacitance cap with a high voltage rating (and lower ESR, but much higher ESL).

  5. DragonDon says:

    Hmm, stacking things for more efficiency…wonder where that idea came from…. http://www.scaramangashop.co.uk/images/uploads/red-chairs-01_(1).jpg

  6. jimday says:

    nice hack. I like it!

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My interests include writing, electronics, RPGs, scifi, hackers & hackerspaces, 3D printing, building sets & toys. @johnbaichtal nerdage.net

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