Capacitors - ripple current?

[Che_Guitarra]

I'm assembling parts to build a Hairball 1176 rev A, but there's a stockout on a couple of items.  I can substitute a cap i'm chasing with an item that is identical in every way, although it has a ripple current of half the value.  I have no idea if that's a good or bad thing. 

Here are the two caps in question:

Can anyone explain ripple current to me in a sentence or two? Is it better to have a higher or lower value?

 

[Che_Guitarra]

And also - do all capacitors have a ripple current rating?  I can find a few more 6.8uf aluminium electrolytic caps in the Mouser catalog but the ripple current isn't stated... hmmm...

 

[michal_k]

Hi,

Don't worry about ripple current of the caps for 1176 build. It's an important parameter when designing switched mode power supplys - it basically says how much AC current can be run through a cap before it overheats and blows.

My advice: when choosing a capacitor, make sure that voltage rating is equal or bigger to what's specified in the bom and the footprint matches. 

 

[Che_Guitarra]

OK, thanks Michal. 

I will get on and order my kit then