Use this electronics calculation for a first-pass component, converter, signal, motor, or sensor estimate when the stated operating conditions and units match the device data.

ESR (Ω)

Series resistance modeling the losses.

Reactance (Ω)

Reactance of the capacitor at the operating frequency.

Compute the dissipation factor of a capacitor as ESR divided by reactance. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

Dissipation factor

Dissipation factor, the reciprocal of the quality factor.

• Capacitance, ESR, leakage, ripple rating, lifetime, and self-resonance vary with frequency, temperature, DC bias, aging, dielectric, package, and mounting. Nominal capacitance alone does not determine in-circuit impedance or reliability.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Check the result against the current datasheet and worst-case operating corners, then verify the circuit or measurement with simulation and bench testing where failure matters.

• Capacitor Dissipation Factor Vs Frequency

  Loss tangent of a series-ESR capacitor at a specified frequency; excludes dielectric frequency dispersion.

• ESR From Dissipation Factor

  Compute equivalent series resistance as dissipation factor / (2 x PI x frequency x capacitance).

• Ideal Capacitor Impedance

  Calculate ideal capacitive reactance Xc=−1/(2πfC) and its magnitude in ohms. ESR, ESL, leakage, and self-resonance are not included.