Following the sad news regarding ICAR's liquidation, DMTL explore the options available to customers looking to replace ICAR capacitors for existing equipment repair or for new equipment manufacture.
DMTL is a fully franchised, authorised Cornell Dubilier (CDE) distributor and, as Design Distributors, are especially positioned to address the confusion and answer the questions.
It is always a challenge when a manufacturer is no longer able to supply. The knock on effect can be enormous, with customers, projects and applications being left in limbo. The demise of ICAR has left just such a void in the supply of Film capacitors, causing confusion and questions.
ICAR was one of the leading manufacturers of electrical capacitors and systems in low and medium voltage. DMTL have helped customers source capacitor alternatives for many years with a broad offering in this sector.
Within this article, we will look exclusively at the ICAR alternatives available from Cornell Dubilier.
Based in Liberty, SC, USA, Cornell Dubilier specialise in AC Power Film Capacitors and DC Film Capacitors, amongst other capacitor technologies. DMTL were appointed Cornell Dubilier (CDE) UK Design Distributors back in 2015.
With almost 700 employees and 720,000 sq ft of factory floor space, CDE Cornell Dubilier offer a broad portfolio of standard capacitor products for Power Electronics.
They really excel with applications and custom capacitor designs for critical applications. Their access to CDE engineers, their global logistics, sales and distribution network all lend support to a customer’s decision to approve a CDE Device.
Film capacitors can come in a very wide set of parameters, with ranges of capacitance from microfarads to millifarads and voltages often running into kilovolts.
Unfortunately, the physical layout, from cylindrical to square box, means that a direct drop in replacement may not be immediately apparent. However, CDE is at the leading edge of film capacitor technology and is willing to work alongside DMTL to support customers with existing ICAR applications.
The below table outlines the ‘cross over’ already established. DMTL are also working hand in hand with all of the technical team at CDE, to handle devices that may not be covered by this ‘first pass’ list.
ICAR | Notes | Rating | CDE Alternative | Datasheet |
LNK-M3 | Aluminium Case | 265 to 6400 ufd | 947C & 947D Series | 947C Series Datasheet, 947D Series Datasheet |
Stud & Insert Terminals | 550 t0 3000 Vdc | 947C Series Datasheet, 947D Series Datasheet | ||
Bottom Mounting Stud | Dry Construction | 947C Series Datasheet, 947D Series Datasheet | ||
LNK-P1X | Plastic Box Capacitor | 7.5 to 45 ufd | Custom Design | |
Copper Tab Terminals | 700 to 1800 Vdc | |||
Very Low Inductance | Dry Construction | |||
LNK-P2L | Stud Terminals | 16 to 350 ufd | 944U Series | 944U Series Datasheet |
LNK-P2T | Insert Terminals | 450 to 2200 Vdc | 944U Series | 944U Series Datasheet |
LNK-P2X | Stud Terminals | Dry Construction | 944U Series | 944U Series Datasheet |
LNK-P2Z | Insert Terminals | 944U Series | 944U Series Datasheet | |
LNK-P3Y | Stud or Insert Terminals | 33 to 1300 ufd | UNL Series | UNL Series Datasheet |
Bottom Mounting Stud | 450 to 2200 Vdc | UNL Series Datasheet | ||
Dry Construction | UNL Series Datasheet | |||
LNK-P4X | Stud Terminals | 20 to 2750 ufd | Custom Design | |
Mounting Feature | 650 to 5000 Vdc | |||
Dry Construction | ||||
LNK-P5Y | Low Inductance Connections | 300 to 12,000 ufd | MDL Series | MDL Series Datasheet |
Mounting Feature | 450 to 4000 Vdc | MDL Series Datasheet | ||
Blade, Stud or Insert Terminals | Dry Construction | MDL Series Datasheet | ||
LNK-P6X | "Hocky Puck" Design | 9 to 230 ufd | Custom Design | |
Very Low Inductance | 450 to 2200 Vdc | |||
Dry Construction | ||||
LNK-P7Y | High Current Design | 180 to 2000 ufd | Custom Design | |
Designed for BusBar Connection | 450 to 2200 Vdc | |||
Plastic Case | Dry Construction | |||
Mounting Feature | ||||
LNK-P8Y | Low Inductance | 200 to 2200 ufd | Custom Design | |
Stud Terminals | 450 to 2200 Vdc | |||
Designed for BusBar Connection | Dry Construction | |||
Mounting Feature | ||||
LNK-P9X | High Current | 120 to 3000 ufd | Custom Design | |
Low Inductance | 800 to 3500 Vdc | |||
Designed for BusBar Connection | Dry Construction | |||
LNK-M | Metal Case | Customer Specified | Custom Design | |
(Steel or Aluminium) | Dry Construction | |||
D65 | Metal Case | Customer Specified | Custom Design | |
BIOENERGY | (Steel or Aluminium) | Oil Filled Construction | ||