Power conversion in automotive, energy, and industrial systems pushes components into conditions that test the limits of reliability. In on-board chargers, traction inverters, solar converters, or even hydrogen electrolyzers, capacitors often face a combination of high temperatures, high ripple currents, and constant humidity. These stress factors can shorten life and force designers to oversize or overengineer modules just to maintain performance margins.
Vishay has introduced the MKP1848e DC-Link film capacitor to address these challenges head-on. Qualified to AEC-Q200 standards, the capacitor is designed to operate at temperatures up to +125 °C and to withstand Grade III temperature humidity bias testing (60 °C, 93 percent relative humidity for 1344 hours at rated voltage). That level of robustness makes it a strong candidate for power electronics in both harsh automotive environments and demanding renewable energy systems.
Compact Form, Higher Ripple Capacity
The MKP1848e family offers capacitance values from 1 µF to 140 µF with rated voltages from 500 VDC to 1300 VDC. By combining low ESR (down to 1.0 mΩ) with improved thermal handling, the devices deliver up to 25 percent higher ripple current density than previous-generation solutions of the same size. At 500 VDC and 900 VDC, this translates to possible volume reductions of 40 percent and 15 percent, respectively, without compromising performance.
Ripple current capability reaches 44.5 A, enabling the capacitor to support high-demand conversion systems in a more compact footprint. Pitch options down to 22.5 mm further enhance design flexibility for engineers working under strict packaging limits.
Withstanding Harsh Operating Profiles
Automotive engineers can expect the MKP1848e to handle voltages from 250 VDC up to 800 VDC at +125 °C for limited durations, matching the operating levels of many EV and PHEV platforms. The design also withstands thermal shock testing across 1000 cycles between -40 °C and +125 °C, with half-hour dwell times at each extreme. For added adaptability, custom terminal configurations are available on request.
Applications Across Automotive and Energy Systems
While the capacitor is clearly suited to EV systems such as on-board chargers, HVAC modules, and DC/DC converters, its use cases extend further. Fast chargers, solar inverters, industrial motor drives, UPS systems, and rectifiers for hydrogen electrolyzers can all benefit from the combination of high capacitance density, humidity resistance, and thermal stability.
A Step Toward More Robust Power Electronics
For engineers, the MKP1848e represents an incremental but meaningful advancement in passive component design. By raising the bar on temperature and humidity endurance while shrinking volume requirements, it allows power electronics designers to simplify thermal management strategies and extend system lifetimes without expanding footprints.
Link to datasheet: http://www.vishay.com/ppg?26085 (MKP1848e DC-Link)
