NLW20-16 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The NLW20-16 is a 20 µF, 16 V aluminum electrolytic capacitor in axial configuration manufactured by Cornell Dubilier Electronics (CDE). This component is classified as obsolete, necessitating the identification of functionally equivalent alternatives for ongoing design support and procurement requirements. The NLW series has been discontinued, making substitute part identification critical for maintenance, repair, and new production applications requiring comparable electrical and mechanical characteristics.

Substiute Parts

NLW20-16

Cornell Dubilier Electronics (CDE)In Stock: 893NLW20-16 Datasheet

Current PartRFQ

226TMA025M

Cornell Dubilier / Illinois CapacitorIn Stock: 5525226TMA025M Datasheet

MFR RecommendedRFQ

Key Parameters

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is determined by equivalence across the following critical electrical and mechanical parameters:

Electrical Compatibility Criteria:

• Capacitance rating within tolerance ranges that accommodate circuit functional requirements
• Voltage rating equal to or exceeding the nominal application voltage (16 V minimum)
• ESR characteristics suitable for ripple current handling and frequency response
• Operating temperature range covering the full application spectrum (-40°C to 105°C)
• Ripple current capacity at both low frequency (120 Hz) and high frequency operation

Mechanical Compatibility Criteria:

• Axial lead configuration for through-hole PCB mounting
• Physical dimensions compatible with existing PCB layouts and mechanical constraints
• Identical polarization (polar configuration)

The 226TMA025M qualifies as a substitute based on these parameters: it maintains polar axial configuration, supports the full operating temperature range, exceeds the voltage requirement (25 V rating), and provides enhanced reliability through extended lifetime rating (2000 hours at 105°C versus 1000 hours for the original).

Parameter Comparison

Engineering Selection Recommendations

The 226TMA025M provides a direct functional substitution for the obsolete NLW20-16 across multiple technical dimensions:

Regulatory Compliance: Both components meet ROHS3 compliance requirements, ensuring regulatory continuity for products required to maintain environmental standards.

Reliability Enhancement: The 226TMA025M delivers extended operational lifetime (2000 hours at 105°C compared to 1000 hours), reducing field failure risk in long-term deployment scenarios.

Voltage Margin: The 25 V rating provides additional voltage headroom beyond the original 16 V specification, preventing marginal operation in circuit topologies subject to transient overvoltage.

Series Availability: The TMA series is classified as active production status with substantial inventory availability (5489 units in stock), ensuring procurement reliability and cost-effective sourcing for both prototype and production quantities.

Physical Compatibility: The axial through-hole configuration and identical operating temperature range support direct mechanical substitution without PCB redesign.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can the 226TMA025M be used as a direct pin-compatible replacement? A: Yes. Both the NLW20-16 and 226TMA025M are axial through-hole components with identical mounting configuration and polarity orientation. Lead diameter and spacing are compatible with standard through-hole PCB traces.

Q: How does the 10% capacitance increase (20 µF to 22 µF) affect circuit operation? A: The 10% increase falls within standard tolerance ranges for aluminum electrolytic capacitors and is suitable for general purpose, bypass, and decoupling applications. Circuit-specific verification is required for applications with tight capacitance specifications or frequency-dependent impedance requirements.

Q: Is the lower low-frequency ripple current rating (48 mA vs 62 mA @ 120Hz) a limitation? A: Application compatibility depends on the actual ripple current experienced in the target circuit. The 226TMA025M exhibits higher high-frequency ripple current capability (96 mA @ 50kHz), making it better suited for switching power supply and high-frequency bypass applications.

Q: What is the benefit of the extended lifetime rating? A: The 2000-hour lifetime at 105°C (versus 1000 hours for the NLW20-16) reduces capacitor aging and improves long-term reliability. This is particularly beneficial for applications subject to sustained elevated temperatures or requiring extended service intervals.

Q: Are there any package dimension differences? A: The 226TMA025M is physically smaller (0.197" diameter × 0.512" length) compared to the NLW20-16 (0.280" diameter × 0.570" length). Verify that the reduced footprint does not conflict with existing mechanical layout constraints or component spacing requirements.

Q: Does product status (Active vs Obsolete) affect procurement? A: Yes. The 226TMA025M active production status ensures long-term availability and price stability, eliminating the supply risk associated with obsolete component sourcing. Production designs should migrate to the active TMA series.