30-11-2016, 03:01 PM
Capacitors self-stabilise in a very similar way to diodes, although obviously the internal mechanisms are different.
Naturally, we can please ourselves in our own projects, but in a mass-production scenario, balancing resistors rarely make it past the bean counters. Capacitor manufacturers usually recommend fitting them, but that's as much about covering themselves as anything else.
Personally, sometimes I do; sometimes I don't. If feasible, I'd rather just fit a single component properly specified to do the job. You have to ask if balancing resistors will do more harm than good - either because of increased leakage, or because of failure (some folk are quick to forget that many types of film resistors can fail at well below their voltage or power rating). Every scenario is different. But in most cases, they aren't needed.
Naturally, we can please ourselves in our own projects, but in a mass-production scenario, balancing resistors rarely make it past the bean counters. Capacitor manufacturers usually recommend fitting them, but that's as much about covering themselves as anything else.
Personally, sometimes I do; sometimes I don't. If feasible, I'd rather just fit a single component properly specified to do the job. You have to ask if balancing resistors will do more harm than good - either because of increased leakage, or because of failure (some folk are quick to forget that many types of film resistors can fail at well below their voltage or power rating). Every scenario is different. But in most cases, they aren't needed.
