We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Electrical

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is an X Capacitor?

By Ray Hawk
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,875
Share

An X capacitor is a type of electrical component used in circuits that serves as a regulating mechanism for the circuit, and it has an electrical charge storage capacity. These capacitors are often referred to as filter capacitors because they are cross-circuit electrical components that maintain a steady flow of current. If an X capacitor is overloaded and fails, the circuit may experience a surge in current that could result in an electrical fire. This is different from how a Y capacitor functions in a circuit, where it is built in a serial line along one electrical channel, whereas an X capacitor is built into the circuit in parallel fashion. If either an X or Y capacitor fail, the circuit is usually not broken and continues to function.

Since an X capacitor is a filtering mechanism for circuits, its role is referred to by electrical certifying agencies such as the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) in the US as an “across-the-line noise” component. This reflects how the X capacitor is wired into the circuit, where it effectively shorts the flow of a portion of current between positive and negative channels to act as a noise-regulating device. In this respect, it has some similarities to inline parallel fuses, though part of its regulatory function also involves a storage cell or capacitance function for current while the circuit is on. When the X capacitor fails, its regulatory function ceases, which does not mean that the circuit has become open where it can cause an electric shock, but has merely become more susceptible to normal mode levels of circuit noise.

While an X capacitor is used in the role that most capacitors are used for in circuits as a secondary cell or condenser of electrical charge, a Y capacitor is built into parallel in the circuit to dispose of excess electrical charge. Because of this difference, a Y capacitor is also connected to a ground source and it channels common mode noise into the ground as the circuit functions. The UL reference for this functionality is “line-by-pass noise,” and, when a Y capacitor fails, there is a real risk of electrical shock if a part of the human body comes into contact with it.

The X capacitor has many common uses in circuitry. Among them include its role as a regulator of direct current (DC) devices to prevent overloads from spikes, as well as serving as a filter for radio frequency noise or interference (RFI), which can be introduced into circuits from external sources by the property of inductance. The X capacitor also aids in smoothing out current flow by its ability to build up and store an electrical charge, which serves as a minor backup source for reservoir capacitors and ensures that the circuit into which it is built has a steady power supply.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-an-x-capacitor.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.