Power · Calculator
Aluminum Capacitor Lifetime
Estimate the operating life of aluminum electrolytic capacitors using the Arrhenius doubling rule.
Adjust inputs and the results update automatically.
Capacitor & Operating Conditions
Model — Arrhenius 10 °C Rule
L_op = L_rated × 2^((T_rated − T_op) / 10)
Every 10 °C below the rated core temperature roughly doubles operating life. This is the standard first-order reliability model for aluminum electrolytic capacitors and ignores ripple-current self-heating.
Estimated Lifetime
Estimated Lifetime
3.7 yr
Lifetime Multiplier
×16.00
Equivalent Hours
32,000h
Lifetime vs. Operating Temperature
Example Component Suggestions
Illustrative only — no real part numbers or manufacturers referenced.
Best Match
Example Component A
General-purpose, mid-range tolerance
Alternate
Example Component B
Precision class, low drift
Stretch
Example Component C
High-power, extended range