Murata Trimmer Capacitor Alternatives from Knowles Johanson MFG / Voltronics. Replacements for Murata series TZY2, TZV2, TZC3, TZB4

In June 2018 Murata announced the withdrawal of their entire trimmer capacitor / variable capacitor range – TZY2, TZV2, TZC3, TZB4. This follows on from Kyocera’s withdrawal from the same market 10 years prior with their CTZ2 and CTZ3 ranges being made obsolete.

Whilst Murata is not actively supporting a replacement product / technology, within their PCN they are recommending customers look at replacement products from Knowles Precision Devices. In a lot of cases the parts are pin for pin compatible along with the same electrical characteristics (except for a few lower capacitance value parts which are available in a different Knowles series. Knowles wide range of trimmer capacitors are often available from stock with extensive stocks within the distribution network to allow for fast qualification.

The 2mm Murata TZY2 is the hardest part to replace due to its tiny size. The Murata part is 2.5mm x 3.2mm wide. The closest equivalent from Knowles would be their JR series which is 3.1mm x 3.5mm. Whilst not a pin for pin replacement mechanically due to it’s slightly larger formfactor the part should be considered as a replacement with the aid of slight PCB footprint adjustments. Two of the lowest starting capacitance values within the TZY2 range are not possible within the standard Knowles JR series, however, these values are available with the Johanson 9701 series (Although these are a different formfactor from the JR series).

Typical Applications

• Bluetooth
• Crystal oscillators
• Crystal filters
• Miniature tuner packs (FM Radio, TV)
• Remote keyless entry systems
• AV Equipment
• Digital Watches