Capacitors

This is a list of the least expensive ‘hobbyist’ parts available from popular distributors such as Mouser, Digikey and Jameco. The aim is to provide a library of the most commonly used parts. So when you need a 100uF capacitor you can be sure that the links here will take you to the cheapest part.

Mouser’s in-house brand (Xicon) is inexpensive and good for general hacking. The “General Purpose” part numbers look like this: 140-XRLxxVyy-RC where xx is the voltage and yy is the capacitance. For example 150-XRL-50V1.0-RC is a 1.0uF/50V capacitor.

Digikey’s cheapest brand is Panasonic KS, KA and M series. The part numbers look like ECE-A1CKA470U where the single letter encodes the voltage rating.

Not all values and voltages are shown on this table so be sure to check the Mouser catalog page, Digikey catalog page or Jameco catalog page for all possible capacitors

Standard ceramic ‘blobby’ bypass capacitors: good for high frequency filtering. Less leaky than electrolytic.

1.0uF / 50V AVX SR215E105MAR

Distributors: Mouser, Digikey Jameco

Price: $0.35/each

Also, a -20%/+80% 1.0uF/50V is available for about half the price of a 10% from Digikey

Price: $0.17/each

0.1uF / 50V AVX SR205E104MAR

Distributors: Mouser, Digikey, Jameco

Price: $0.10-$0.20 / each

0.01uF / 100V Kemet C315C103K1R5TA

Distributors: Mouser, Digikey Jameco

Price: $0.17/each

“Standard” ceramic bypass capacitors

1000pF/50V (1nF, 0.001uF)

Typical Datasheet: C1206C102K5RACTU

Distributors: Xicon 140-CC502B102K-RC @ Mouser, Yageo CC1206KRX7R9BB102 @ Digikey

Price $0.07/each

10000pf (10nF, 0.01uF) @ 50V

Typical Datasheet: Kemet C1206C103K5RACTU

Distributors: Yageo CC1206KRX7R9BB103 @ Digikey, Mouser

Price $0.10/each

0.1uF up to 50V

Typical Datasheet: Kemet C1206C104K5RACTU

Distributors: Mouser Digikey

Price: $0.07 / each

1.0uF up to 25V

Typical Datasheet: Kemet C1206C105K3RACTU

Distributors Mouser Digikey

Price $0.25 / each