Tips to find cheaper MLCCs?

[MildInductor]

Hello, I am after some 4.7uF THT MLCCs from Mouser. The tolerance or voltage rating isn't really of great concern to me (so long as the voltage rating is safely over 1.8V). I am using the cap to decouple the 1.8V input of the MAX30102, as per the recommended application circuit in the datasheet. I am wondering why the caps are so expensive (around $1-2 AUD per unit in a quantity of 10)? Even the high volume pricing is still around $1 per unit. Is this really how much these caps cost or am I missing something? I do see that the SMD packages are slightly cheaper, so maybe they are priced how they are because buying a THT package isn't common?

[mikeselectricstuff]

Through-hole ceramic caps haven't progressed in the same way as SMDs, as nobody uses them. Check LCSC for a cheaper source

[selcuk]

If it is possible to use SMD you can find cheaper alternatives. The voltage is important since these MLCCs hava DC bias characteristics. They loose capacity with increasing DC bias. And the price increases if its capacity decreases less with DC voltage. So the cheapest ones may have half the capacity with your operating voltage.

This one is $0.167 for 10 pcs:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/samsung-electro-mechanics/CL21B106KOQNNNE/3888530

Check "DC Bias Characteristics" graph on this page. Same part with the above link. It becomes 9uF at 1.8V and 7uF at 3.3V although it is rated for 16V.
https://weblib.samsungsem.com/mlcc/mlcc-ec-data-sheet.do?partNumber=CL21B106KOQNNN

[John B]

THT versions are limited in choice and quite expensive, and to be honest, many of them look like SMD caps with legs attached to them, for 10-100x the cost.

You can probably use an SMD cap if you're hand soldering to a THT footprint.

Also in general, the local suppliers like element 14, mouser and digikey are quite a lot more expensive when it comes to basic passives like resistors and caps. You can save a lot getting them from LCSC, but do make sure to check the final figure including shipping to see if it's worth it in your case.

[wraper]

THT versions are limited in choice and quite expensive, and to be honest, many of them look like SMD caps with legs attached to them, for 10-100x the cost.

Through hole MLCC are exactly that. They're basically SMD capacitors with terminals soldered on and dipped into protective compound.

[MildInductor]

Thanks everyone, that helps me understand. I wasn't aware of the DC bias characteristics of MLCCs. I'll research it some more.

[ifonlyeverything]

Hello, I am after some 4.7uF THT MLCCs from Mouser. The tolerance or voltage rating isn't really of great concern to me (so long as the voltage rating is safely over 1.8V). I am using the cap to decouple the 1.8V input of the MAX30102, as per the recommended application circuit in the datasheet. I am wondering why the caps are so expensive (around $1-2 AUD per unit in a quantity of 10)? Even the high volume pricing is still around $1 per unit. Is this really how much these caps cost or am I missing something? I do see that the SMD packages are slightly cheaper, so maybe they are priced how they are because buying a THT package isn't common?

If this is just for hobby use you can buy no-name Chinese through hole ceramic capacitors on eBay for cheap. They aren't characterized with data sheets so be mindful of things like DC bias limitations, but with that said they've always worked just fine for me. https://www.ebay.com/itm/362970704964

[ebastler]

I am using the cap to decouple the 1.8V input of the MAX30102, as per the recommended application circuit in the datasheet.

The MAX30102 is only available as an SMD part anyway, right? So why would you use THT capacitors with it? (If you plan to use the MAX30102 on one of those little breakout boards, I believe those already provide supply decoupling -- passives on the bottom of the PCB.)