Electrolytic Capacitors under pressure?

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Sterno
Posts: 9
Joined: Nov 1st, 2011, 7:48 pm

Electrolytic Capacitors under pressure?

Post by Sterno »

I was wondering whether anyone has had issues with electrolytic caps in your ROV's that are exposed to water pressure?
I'm going to be using some large Capacitors in a power converter that I had planned to oil-fill to help with heat dissipation and to reduce the need for an additional heavy pressure housing. Since electrolytic caps rely on a microscopic layer of gas bubbles to insulate the charge sides, I was curious as to whether applying pressure caused failures as the layer would (theoretically, at least) get thinner with higher pressures.
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bigbadbob
Posts: 272
Joined: Nov 28th, 2011, 10:24 am

Re: Electrolytic Capacitors under pressure?

Post by bigbadbob »

I've seen them cave in and short out after a pressure vessel failed at depth. i suspect they'd be fine at a few psi in an oil filled enclosure but not at high pressures. the same happens with metal can power transistors, they distort under pressure.
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