Basics
Supercapacitor Basics
Supercapacitors sit between electrolytic capacitors and batteries: far more energy than a capacitor, far more power and cycle life than a battery.
Capacitance (F)
Charge stored per volt. Datasheets give initial value and tolerance; plan for end-of-life loss.
Rated voltage (V)
Maximum continuous voltage, typically 2.5–3.0 V per EDLC cell. Derating extends life.
ESR (mΩ)
Internal resistance. Sets the instant voltage drop (I·ESR) and self-heating at high current.
Leakage current
Self-discharge current after charging. Matters for long standby and energy-harvesting designs.
Lifetime
Driven by voltage and temperature. Life roughly halves per 10 °C rise as a rule of thumb.
Energy
E = ½·C·V². Only the window between start and minimum voltage is usable.
Ready to discuss your project?
Share your requirements and an engineer will respond.