Capacitor product attributes

Capacitance and voltage are only the starting point for a capacitor record. Two parts with the same value and rating can differ in dielectric, case size, temperature range and life, and those differences decide whether one can replace the other. Supplier data often expresses the value in codes such as 104 or in mixed units, which makes duplicate and near-duplicate records common.

Many important values are conditional. ESR and ripple current depend on test frequency and temperature, endurance is quoted at a stated temperature, and ceramic capacitors with Class 2 dielectrics lose effective capacitance under DC bias. A record that stores the number without its test condition invites false comparisons between datasheets written to different conditions.

Package and qualification details finish the picture. The EIA and metric case codes for ceramic chips overlap in confusing ways, height matters for tight assemblies, and safety-rated capacitors for mains filtering carry their own class and approvals. Lifecycle status and last-time-buy dates matter to buyers planning production runs as much as any electrical value.

The capacitors attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 10 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	CC0805X7R104K500
GTIN-13 / UPC gtin_13_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	5412345000129

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Capacitance capacitance	Number · µF	Core	0.1 µF (100 nF)
Capacitance Tolerance capacitance_tolerance	Controlled list · %	Core	±10% (K)
Rated Voltage rated_voltage	Number · V	Core	50 VDC
Dielectric / Temperature Characteristic dielectric_temperature_characteristic	Controlled list	Core	X7R (-55 °C to +125 °C, ±15%)
Operating Temperature Range operating_temperature_range	Text · °C	Core	-55 °C to +125 °C
ESR @ Test Frequency esr_test_frequency	Number · mΩ	Buyer decision	85 mΩ @ 100 kHz, 20 °C (polymer/electrolytic types)
Ripple Current @ Frequency and Temperature ripple_current_frequency_and_temperature	Number · mA rms	Buyer decision	1,120 mA rms @ 100 kHz, 105 °C (electrolytic types)
Lifetime / Endurance @ Temperature lifetime_endurance_temperature	Number · hours	Buyer decision	5,000 h @ 105 °C (electrolytic types)

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Capacitor Type capacitor_type	Controlled list	Core	Ceramic (MLCC)
Package / Case package_case	Controlled list	Core	0805 (2012 Metric)
Polarization polarization	Controlled list	Core	Non-polar

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Mounting Type mounting_type	Controlled list	Core	Surface Mount

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Ratings / Qualification ratings_qualification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	AEC-Q200 Grade 1
Safety Class and Agency Approvals safety_class_and_agency_approvals	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	X2, 305 VAC, IEC 60384-14 (film safety types)
RoHS / REACH Status rohs_reach_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	RoHS 3 (EU 2015/863); no SVHC > 0.1%
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Japan

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Capacitance at Applied DC Bias
• Height (Seated, Max)
• Termination Style (standard vs flexible)
• Lifecycle Status and Last-Time-Buy Date
• Aging Rate (Class 2 dielectric)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing capacitors ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• How much capacitance will this 10 µF X5R part really have at 5 V bias?
• Is this capacitor safety-rated for use across the mains line?
• What is the maximum height of this 1206 part on the board?
• Is this part still active, or is there a last-time-buy date?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ