Test No. 104 - "Electrolytic Capacitor EL-7"

Output Variations at 30oC

June 6 - 13, 1977
Stewart Ct. Laboratory
Sunnyvale, Ca. 94086
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PURPOSE:

To observe fluctuations in self-potential output of electrolytic capacitor EL-7 at constant temperature 30oC. Capacitor loaded with 50 K.

PROCEDURE:

The capacitor (by its construction) is hermetically sealed (against humidity and barometric pressure changes) and the can (grounded) is almost completely immersed in 50% ethylene glycol solution at 30oC +/- .1oC in constant-temperature bath (also grounded).

Potential reduced to the range (0-10 mV) of Houston recorder No. 2 by loading with 50 K. Circuit is as follows:

Graphic - Output Graph: Thumb (4.2 Kb) Full (11.0 Kb)

RESULTS:

As shown on chart (Fig. 1), there appears to be no definite diurnal periodicity in the self-potential of EL-7 during this period of time.

Considering that the capacitor is shunted by a 50 K load, the potential developed is surprising.

The polarity reversed from positive to negative in this capacitor early in June and remained negative throughout this test.

Graphic - Output Graph: Thumb (14.6 Kb) Full (75.8 Kb)