The CER ENG KIT 35 from KEMET is a sample kit containing parts from the HIQ-CBR series in EIA 0805 case size. Engineers evaluating Class 1 dielectric capacitors for RF, timing, and filter circuits face a recurring problem: balancing temperature stability, tight tolerance, and parasitic inductance in a small package. The HIQ-CBR series addresses this with a C0G dielectric that offers near-zero capacitance change over temperature and voltage, combined with a low-ESR, low-ESL construction. This kit provides a curated set of values across that series, enabling rapid prototyping without ordering individual reel quantities. For procurement professionals, the kit serves as a cross-reference benchmark when qualifying alternative sources for high-Q surface-mount capacitors.

Capacitor Kit Engineering Context and Dielectric Physics

Sample kits in the Capacitor Kits category serve a distinct role: they bridge datasheet parameters and real-world board performance. The CER ENG KIT 35 is explicitly designed around the HIQ-CBR series, which employs a C0G (NP0) dielectric. C0G is a Class 1 dielectric formulation based on titanate compounds that exhibit a dielectric constant (εr) typically between 30 and 300. Unlike Class 2 ceramics (X7R, X5R), C0G capacitors show capacitance change of ±30 ppm/°C or less across the -55°C to +125°C range. This stability is critical for resonant circuits where a 5% shift in capacitance would detune the operating frequency. The HIQ-CBR designation further indicates enhanced high-frequency performance: the parts are constructed with copper electrodes and a silver-palladium termination system that minimizes contact resistance. When an AC signal passes through a standard ceramic capacitor, the dielectric polarization causes energy loss proportional to the dissipation factor (DF). In high-Q applications — such as VCO tank circuits or impedance matching networks — a DF below 0.1% is required. The HIQ-CBR series achieves this by using a highly uniform dielectric grain structure that reduces domain wall motion losses, yielding Q values typically exceeding 1000 at 1 MHz.

Parameter Meaning and Critical Specs for RF Design

Engineers evaluating the CER ENG KIT 35 must understand four interdependent parameters: rated voltage, temperature coefficient, tolerance, and equivalent series resistance (ESR). For this product family, typical values range from 50 VDC rated voltage for 0805 case sizes, with tolerances at ±1%, ±2%, and ±5%. The temperature coefficient for C0G is defined as 0 ppm/°C ±30 ppm/°C, guaranteed from -55°C to +125°C. ESR in these parts is dominated by the termination resistance and electrode resistance, not the dielectric loss. At 100 MHz, a 10 pF HIQ-CBR 0805 capacitor typically exhibits ESR below 100 mΩ, which translates to a Q factor above 100 at that frequency. The self-resonant frequency (SRF) depends on capacitance value and parasitic inductance (ESL) — the 0805 package contributes approximately 0.4 nH to 0.6 nH of series inductance. A 1 pF capacitor in this family resonates above 6 GHz, while a 100 pF part resonates near 800 MHz. For designers, this means the same physical package covers different frequency ranges; the kit enables side-by-side comparison of values to map where SRF occurs relative to the operating band.

Selection Methodology for the HIQ-CBR Series

Using the CER ENG KIT 35 effectively requires a structured approach to capacitor selection. Start with the application frequency: for circuits operating above 500 MHz, select capacitance values where the SRF is at least 2x the signal frequency to avoid parasitic self-resonance. Next, evaluate the AC voltage swing: C0G dielectrics exhibit negligible voltage coefficient, so the rated capacitance holds from 0 VDC to the full rated voltage. This contrasts with Class 2 dielectrics that can lose 30-50% of capacitance at half the rated voltage. The kit includes values from 0.1 pF to 100 pF in E24 series steps (e.g., 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82, 100 pF). Tolerance selection matters: a 1% tolerance capacitor costs more but allows a narrower design margin in filters. For a 2nd-order bandpass filter at 2.4 GHz, a 3% capacitance error shifts center frequency by approximately 1.5%. The kit provides multiple tolerance grades for the same value, letting engineers measure actual frequency response and decide whether 1% parts are needed for production or if 5% parts suffice after tuning.

The two most critical specs in the table are the temperature coefficient and the aging rate. For any oscillator or filter that must maintain frequency lock over time, C0G capacitors are effectively non-aging. A Class 2 capacitor like X7R can lose 1-2% of capacitance per decade hour of operation, which in a 1 MHz oscillator translates to a 10-20 kHz drift over five years. The HIQ-CBR series eliminates that variable entirely. The second critical spec is the dissipation factor: at 1 MHz, a DF of 0.05% versus 0.1% represents the difference between a Q of 2000 and a Q of 1000. In narrowband antenna matching networks, this can affect insertion loss by 0.2 dB, which is significant at power levels above 1 watt where heat generation becomes a concern.

Real-World Applications Across Industries

The CER ENG KIT 35 is most frequently deployed in four industry verticals. In telecommunications infrastructure, these capacitors appear in base station LO (local oscillator) circuits and SAW filter matching networks. The 0805 package allows placement near the SAW filter input/output without introducing parasitic stub effects. In automotive radar modules — operating at 77 GHz — these capacitors serve as DC blocking caps in the IF signal path. Although 77 GHz is far above the SRF of any 0805 capacitor, the C0G dielectric ensures that the AC impedance remains purely capacitive up to the SRF, after which the impedance becomes inductive. Automotive designers often choose 0.1 pF values (lowest in the kit) for interstage coupling to minimize shunt capacitance. In medical electronics — specifically ultrasound transducer arrays — the capacitors are used in transmit/receive switches that must handle high-voltage spikes while maintaining capacitance stability. The HIQ-CBR series rated voltage (typically 50 V or higher per datasheet) provides sufficient headroom for ±30 V transducer excitation pulses. In aerospace satellite power conditioning, these capacitors are used in EMI filter input stages where temperature extremes and vacuum outgassing resistance are mandatory. The silver-palladium termination provides better solder joint reliability under thermal cycling than nickel-barrier terminations.

Common Field Pitfalls and Engineering Workarounds

Three recurring failures occur with C0G 0805 capacitors in high-frequency circuits. First: parasitic coupling through the package. The 0805 body has approximately 0.05 pF of self-capacitance to the ground plane if placed directly over a solid copper pour. For values below 0.5 pF, this parasitic can constitute 10% of the total capacitance. Mitigation requires a ground plane cutout beneath the capacitor footprint. Second: soldering thermal shock. C0G capacitors are mechanically robust, but hand soldering with a 350°C iron for more than 5 seconds can induce microcracks in the termination layer. The kit includes multiple samples of each value; engineers should allocate separate parts for destructive thermomechanical testing. Third: DC bias capacitance shift — a non-issue for C0G, but engineers switching from X7R are often unaware of this benefit. A common mistake is assuming that all ceramic capacitors require voltage derating. For the HIQ-CBR series, capacitance at 50 VDC (rated) is identical to capacitance at 1 VDC, which simplifies simulation models.

Frequently Asked Questions About CER ENG KIT 35

Engineering teams evaluating the CER ENG KIT 35 should begin by measuring SRF and impedance magnitude with a network analyzer across the included value range. This empirical data, combined with the known C0G temperature stability, enables accurate filter design without safety factor padding. For procurement, the kit provides a direct physical cross-reference against alternative high-Q 0805 capacitors from manufacturers like Murata (GQM series) or Johanson (S-Series). The fundamental takeaway: the HIQ-CBR series eliminates the three dominant error sources — temperature drift, voltage coefficient, and aging — that plague standard ceramic capacitors, making the CER ENG KIT 35 a targeted tool for precision analog and RF circuits.