The HACS-Z Series is a precision wide-range Decade Capacitance Box. With its high quality, tight tolerance capacitors, it is an ideal solution for calibration labs. It can be used as a bench model for versatility, or it can be rack-mounted.
The HACS-Z Series high accuracy capacitance box is capable of meeting exacting requirements for fixed or adjustable calibration capacitance, or any applications requiring precise and stable capacitance values. You can pick the best unit for your application, without overpaying for ranges that you do not require. Models are available with a range of 1 pF – 11,111 μF in as few as 3 or as many as 11 decades.
For the lowest decades, the 1 pF and 10 pF decade steps, trimmable air capacitors are used. The capacitors are selected for maximum resolution, high mechanical stability, and low dissipation factor. The mid-range decades, 100 pF, 1000 pF, 0.01 μF and 0.1 μF steps, are implemented with the highest grade mechanically stabilized sealed 0505 mica capacitors, especially selected for optimum electrical characteristics and excellent stability. The highest decades are implemented with metalized polyphenylene sulfide (MPPS) capacitors. These capacitors are hermetically sealed for high reliability and stability. Hermetic sealing prevents the intrusion of moisture into the capacitor packages.
The HACS-Z is a well-shielded three-terminal capacitor resulting in extremely low zero capacitance. For best accuracy the HACS-Z should be used with shield. When used for two terminal measurements capacitance values will be higher.
See IET Labs 1423-A Decade Capacitor which minimizes capacitance at the terminals to ensure the capacitance is the same for either the three-terminal or the two-terminal method of connection.
The connections are made by means of BNC connectors on the front of the cabinet or 5 binding posts (Rear output or 874 connectors are also available). The inner contacts provide the connections to the capacitors. The outer shells connect to the shields and, when connected together, form the third terminal of the capacitor.
To improve the resolution of 1 pF on the HACS-Z capacitance decade box consider adding the optional HACS-Z 1pF Trimmer. Adding the 1000 μF decade to this HACS series could be a considerable investment. Should you not require the precision of the standard 1000 μF decade, consider the -EC option which uses high-performance electrolytic capacitors only on this decade.