TRIMMER CAPACITOR APPLICATION INFORMATION
| PISTONCAP® AND MULTITURN AIRTRIM®: | Used on military and professional grade equipment. |
| MULTITURN PTFE PLASTIC: | Used on industrial and commercial grade equipment. |
| FILMTRIM®: | Used on industrial, commercial and consumer grade equipment. |
| SINGLE TURN CERAMIC: | Used on industrial, commercial and consumer grade equipment. |
| SINGLE TURN AIRTRIM®: | Used on industrial and commercial grade equipment. |
| MICA COMPRESSION: | Used on industrial, commercial and consumer grade equipment carrying RF power and/or requiring high capacitance. |
COMPARING TRIMMER CAPACITORS
The table below compares the performance characteristics of the various types of trimmer capacitors. Where stability, high Q, tuning sensitivity and high working voltage are most important, consider multiturn glass, quartz, or sapphire trimmers first. If high stability and high Q are important, but tuning sensitivity and small size are not, then single turn air dielectric is probably the best choice. If price is the single most important consideration, then take a close look at ceramic, mica, and single turn plastic trimmers.|
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| Relative Performance (1=Best) |
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Sapphire | Plastic | Ceramic | Air | Ceramic | Plastic | Air |
Compression |
| Stability | 1 | 1, 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| High Q | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1, 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Tuning Adjustment Sensitivity | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| High Working Voltage | 1 | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Operation UHF & Up | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2, 3 | 1, 2 | 1, 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| RF Current Handling Capability | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Physical Size | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2, 3 | 3 | 1 | 1, 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Temperature Range | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1, 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Shock and Vibration Resistance | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1, 2 | 3 |
| Moisture Resistance | 1 | 1, 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Price | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Relative Performance (1=Best) |
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Sapphire | Plastic | Ceramic | Air | Ceramic | Plastic | Air |
Compression |
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- Product Selector Guide: Trimmer Capacitor Application Information and Comparison Chart
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Glass PISTONCAP® Precision Trimmers (SG-205)
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Ceramic Dielectric Trimmers (SG-305)
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Sapphire Dielectric SURFTRIM® (SG-310)
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Multiturn PTFE Dielectric Trimmers (SG-401)
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Mica Dielectric Compression Trimmers (SG-500)
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To order literature on any of the products listed above, please note the brochure number listed in parenthesis and click here to request that brochure via fax or conventional mail.