Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd has announced the introduction of additional models to its KCA series of metal terminal surface-mount multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) compliant with safety standards class Y2/X1 safety capacitors.
Compared to existing Murata KCA series devices, the new additions deliver an increased rated voltage and, for certain capacitance values, a reduced profile (low height). Mass production will begin in September 2025.
Driven by further electrification in the electric vehicle (EV) market, higher voltage requirements are accelerating in automotive powertrains and safety-related equipment. The components that make up these systems must operate reliably under high-voltage loads. In addition, household charging units for EV batteries are increasingly employing three-phase AC power sources, which likewise demand high-voltage capability.
To meet this market demand, the newly introduced models have undergone a design review to allow operation at higher voltages. While the existing KCA series had a safety-certified voltage of 250Vac (r.m.s.), the new models support 500Vac (r.m.s.) and have acquired safety standard certification for class Y2/X1.
Thanks to the revised design, certain capacitance values achieve a lower profile compared to previous products, enabling installation in more space-constrained environments. Furthermore, these additions are offered at a reduced cost versus existing alternatives, supporting long-term cost reduction objectives.
Key features include:
- Safety standard class Y2/X1 certification with a rated voltage of 500Vac (r.m.s.)
- All capacitance values achieve reduced height compared to preceding equivalents, except for 3300pF and 6800pF units
- More competitive pricing compared with existing KCA series models
For more details on the KCA series with X7R temperature characteristics, please visit the product page.
For further information on the KCA series as a whole, please visit the related site.