What are air capacitors?

What are air capacitors?

Air capacitors are capacitors which use air as their dielectric. The simplest air capacitors are made of two conductive plates separated by an air gap. Air capacitors can be made in a variable or fixed capacitance form.

What is the maximum working voltage of an air capacitor?

Air capacitors have a small capacitance which usually lies between 100pF and 1nF. The maximum working voltage depends on the physical dimensions of the capacitor. A high operating voltage requires that the distance between plates is sufficient to avoid electrical breakdown of air.

What are variable air gap capacitors made of?

Variable air gap capacitors are usually made of two groups of semicircular metal plates. One group is fixed, while the other can be rotated using a shaft connected to it.

What are the dimensions of a Cardwell air variable capacitor?

Cardwell air variable capacitor. 1.1-4 pF @ 5 kv. 0.140″ gap. 1-3/8″W x 2-9/16″L x 1-1/8″H. 1/4″ shaft. 1/2″L with locking nut. Alt P/N: PL6022. Cardwell air variable capacitor. 1-5 pF @ 3 kv. 0.070″ gap. 1-7/16″W x 1-1/8″H x 2″L. Optional extra plate increases capacity to 7.5 pF.

What is a variable air gap capacitor?

Variable air gap capacitors are usually made of two groups of semicircular metal plates. One group is fixed, while the other can be rotated using a shaft connected to it. The two groups are sandwiched with an air gap between each two plates.

Are air capacitors safe to use?

This means that air capacitors may be safely used without regard to DC polarity, which is useful in some applications. They are safe for use in AC applications, as long as the maximum voltage rating is not exceeded. Variable air gap capacitors are usually made of two groups of semicircular metal plates.