The Rubycon 8SW68M is a surface mount aluminum-polymer capacitor delivering 68 µF capacitance in a compact 2917 (7343 metric) package. Part of the PC-CON SW series, this component operates at 8 V rated voltage with ±20% tolerance, providing stable performance across a temperature range from -55°C to 105°C. The polymer dielectric construction achieves 18 mΩ equivalent series resistance while maintaining a 2000-hour rated lifetime at 105°C maximum operating temperature.
This aluminum-polymer capacitor measures 7.30 mm × 4.30 mm with a maximum seated height of 2.70 mm, fitting standard surface mount land patterns for the 2917 case size. The low ESR characteristic enables 2.5 A ripple current handling at 100 kHz, making it suitable for switching power supply output filtering, voltage regulator applications, and decoupling circuits where space constraints demand high capacitance density. The polymer electrolyte offers improved electrical stability compared to conventional liquid electrolyte aluminum capacitors, particularly beneficial in designs requiring consistent impedance characteristics across frequency and temperature variations.
General purpose applications include DC-DC converter output stages, processor power delivery networks, and bulk capacitance in space-limited PCB layouts. The 8 V rating provides adequate voltage margin for 5 V and 3.3 V rail filtering with standard derating practices. Surface mount installation supports automated assembly processes, while the 2917 footprint delivers higher capacitance-to-volume ratio than smaller case sizes for applications where board area permits.
The component carries RoHS3 compliance and MSL 3 classification requiring controlled handling with a maximum 168-hour floor life after bag opening. Current product status is obsolete, with
EEF-CX1A680R
listed as a potential substitute for new designs. Existing inventory availability supports maintenance and repair operations for established products incorporating this part number.
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
8SW68M (1)
Finding a Rubycon 8SW68M Replacement for an Obsolete 68uF 8V Polymer Capacitor
The Rubycon 8SW68M is obsolete, so replacement selection is usually driven by lifecycle risk, PCB repair needs, production continuity, or second-source qualification. Because it is a low-ESR aluminum polymer capacitor in a 2917 / 7343 metric SMD package, a replacement cannot be chosen by capacitance and voltage alone. ESR, ripple current, package height, land pattern, voltage derating, leakage behavior, and capacitor chemistry all affect whether an alternative will work reliably.
Common replacement and alternative part numbers to evaluate include:
| Replacement Part Number | Manufacturer | Replacement Type |
|---|---|---|
|
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
| Panasonic | Closest aluminum polymer SMD alternative |
| T520D686M010ATE018 | KEMET | Polymer tantalum functional alternative |
| T521D686M010ATE030 | KEMET | Polymer tantalum alternative where slightly higher ESR is acceptable |
| 10SVP68M | Panasonic | Aluminum polymer alternative where PCB and height constraints allow |
For a Rubycon 8SW68M equivalent replacement, Panasonic
EEF-CX1A680R
is the closest candidate because it matches the 68uF capacitance class, uses polymer technology, offers a higher 10V rating, and is designed for low-ESR decoupling applications. Other alternatives may be suitable, but they require closer review of layout, ripple current, derating rules, and application stress.
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
What Defines the Rubycon 8SW68M Aluminum Polymer Capacitor
The Rubycon 8SW68M is a 68uF, 8V aluminum polymer capacitor from Rubycon’s PC-CON SW series. It uses a 2917 / 7343 metric surface-mount package with a 7.30mm x 4.30mm footprint and a maximum seated height of about 2.70mm. Its low 18mOhm ESR and 2.5A ripple current rating at 100kHz make it suitable for compact power filtering and point-of-load decoupling.
| Parameter | Rubycon 8SW68M Specification | Replacement Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Capacitance | 68uF | Replacement should normally stay close to 68uF unless loop stability and transient response are revalidated |
| Rated voltage | 8V | A 10V replacement is usually acceptable and may improve voltage derating margin |
| ESR | 18mOhm | A much higher ESR can increase ripple voltage; a much lower ESR may affect regulator loop stability |
| Ripple current | 2.5A at 100kHz | Replacement must handle application ripple current with temperature margin |
| Lifetime | 2000 hours at 105°C | Alternatives should be checked against operating temperature and expected service life |
| Package | 2917 / 7343 metric SMD | Land pattern compatibility is a major selection constraint |
| Height | 2.70mm max | Taller alternatives may interfere with enclosures, shields, or neighboring components |
| Temperature range | -55°C to +105°C | Suitable for industrial and general-purpose power electronics environments |
| MSL | Level 3, 168 hours | Assembly floor-life and reflow handling should be considered |
The original Rubycon 8SW68M is commonly used in DC/DC converter outputs, FPGA and processor rail decoupling, compact industrial controls, communications hardware, embedded power modules, and general-purpose low-voltage filtering. In these circuits, the capacitor often contributes to transient response and output ripple control. Therefore, a replacement should be checked not only for fit, but also for regulator stability, ripple heating, reflow profile compatibility, and voltage derating.
Candidate Rubycon 8SW68M Equivalent and Alternative Parts
The following table compares practical candidates for replacing the Rubycon 8SW68M. Values should be confirmed against the latest manufacturer datasheets before final approval, especially for ripple current, endurance, and package height.
| Manufacturer | Part Number | Key Specifications | Product Features | Typical Applications | Why It Can Replace Rubycon 8SW68M | Main Differences or Limitations | Recommended Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic |
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
| 68uF, 10V, aluminum polymer, low ESR class, SMD 7343-style package | Low ESR polymer construction, higher voltage rating than 8SW68M, compact low-profile SMD format | DC/DC converter outputs, processor power rails, telecom boards, embedded power filtering | Closest functional match: same capacitance, polymer aluminum technology, higher voltage rating, similar low-ESR behavior and package class | Exact height, ripple current, and land pattern should still be confirmed; ESR may be similar but not automatically identical across frequency and temperature | Best first-choice Rubycon 8SW68M replacement when a direct aluminum polymer SMD substitute is preferred |
| KEMET | T520D686M010ATE018 | 68uF, 10V, polymer tantalum, D case / 7343 footprint class, 18mOhm ESR class | Conductive polymer tantalum, stable capacitance, low ESR, strong volumetric efficiency | Low-voltage rails, bypassing, power distribution networks, compact electronics | Matches capacitance, voltage margin, ESR class, and approximate 7343 footprint; useful when aluminum polymer availability is limited | Different capacitor chemistry; tantalum polymer derating, surge current behavior, leakage current, and failure mode should be reviewed | Suitable as a functional alternative after circuit stress, derating, and reliability review |
| KEMET | T521D686M010ATE030 | 68uF, 10V, polymer tantalum, D case / 7343 footprint class, 30mOhm ESR class | Polymer tantalum design with compact SMD package and stable electrical behavior | Output filtering, distributed decoupling, industrial and commercial power rails | Offers same capacitance and higher voltage rating with compatible footprint class | ESR is higher than Rubycon 8SW68M, which may increase ripple voltage or reduce transient performance | Consider where the circuit can tolerate higher ESR or where multiple capacitors share ripple current |
| Panasonic | 10SVP68M | 68uF, 10V, aluminum polymer, radial/SMD can-style depending on variant availability | Aluminum polymer technology, good ripple capability, 10V rating | Power supply filtering, converter outputs, general low-ESR capacitor replacement | Same capacitance class and higher voltage rating with polymer aluminum behavior | Mechanical style may not match the 2917 / 7343 low-profile land pattern; height and footprint are likely the main constraints | Use only when PCB layout, clearance, and assembly process allow a different package style |
Among these options, Panasonic
EEF-CX1A680R
is the most natural Rubycon 8SW68M equivalent because it preserves the aluminum polymer capacitor behavior while increasing voltage rating to 10V. KEMET T520D686M010ATE018 is attractive when the design can accept polymer tantalum chemistry and needs an 18mOhm ESR class in a similar footprint. KEMET T521D686M010ATE030 is less direct because of its higher ESR, but it may still work in power rails where ripple current is shared or regulator compensation is tolerant. Panasonic 10SVP68M should be treated as a mechanical-layout alternative rather than a drop-in 2917 SMD replacement.
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
Engineering Comparison of Rubycon 8SW68M Replacement Options
Replacement selection should start with the operating rail voltage, ripple current, PCB land pattern, and regulator stability requirements. A 10V part replacing an 8V capacitor is generally favorable from a derating perspective, but electrical compatibility also depends on ESR and impedance over frequency.
| Decision Factor | EEF-CX1A680R | T520D686M010ATE018 | T521D686M010ATE030 | 10SVP68M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical compatibility with Rubycon 8SW68M | High; same 68uF class, higher 10V rating, low ESR polymer behavior | Good if polymer tantalum is acceptable; 68uF, 10V, 18mOhm class | Moderate; capacitance and voltage match, but ESR is higher | Electrically reasonable, but depends on exact variant and layout |
| Mechanical compatibility | Likely close for 7343-style SMD layouts, but verify pad geometry and height | Often compatible with D case / 7343 pad concepts, but footprint details must be checked | Similar D case / 7343 class, verify dimensions and solder fillets | Usually not a direct low-profile 2917 replacement |
| ESR and ripple behavior | Closest to original low-ESR aluminum polymer performance | Similar ESR class, but ripple and surge behavior differ by chemistry | Higher ESR may raise ripple voltage and heating | Can provide good ripple capability, but package and thermal path differ |
| Reliability considerations | Similar polymer aluminum replacement path; check endurance and reflow profile | Polymer tantalum requires voltage derating and surge current assessment | Same chemistry concerns as T520, with higher ESR reducing peak current stress in some cases | Aluminum polymer behavior is familiar, but mechanical adaptation may introduce assembly risk |
| Regulator stability impact | Lowest risk among listed alternatives | Requires validation if the regulator output capacitor type changes | Higher ESR may improve or degrade stability depending on compensation design | Requires validation because package parasitics may differ |
| Package availability | Strong candidate for direct sourcing as listed substitute | Common polymer tantalum family; availability depends on distributor stock | Useful second-source style option | Availability may be good, but not necessarily footprint-compatible |
| Cost considerations | May be higher than commodity capacitors but saves redesign effort | Polymer tantalum pricing can vary; useful when aluminum polymer supply is constrained | May be cost-effective if performance margin allows | Cost may be reasonable, but redesign or manual assembly can add cost |
| Best-fit scenario | Direct Rubycon 8SW68M replacement in compact SMD power circuits | Functional substitute where 7343 footprint and 10V rating are needed | Applications tolerant of 30mOhm ESR or parallel capacitor networks | Redesigns, repairs, or boards with space for different mechanical format |
| Main limitation | Datasheet confirmation still required before production release | Different failure mode and derating practice versus aluminum polymer | Less suitable for low-ripple, high-transient rails requiring 18mOhm ESR | Mechanical mismatch is the main barrier |
For most Rubycon 8SW68M replacement projects,
EEF-CX1A680R
should be evaluated first because it minimizes changes in capacitance, voltage margin, ESR class, and capacitor technology. If
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
EEF-CX1A680R
is unavailable, T520D686M010ATE018 is the stronger functional alternative because its 18mOhm ESR class is closer to the original 8SW68M. T521D686M010ATE030 can be considered when the circuit has adequate ripple and transient margin. 10SVP68M is better suited to redesigns or non-drop-in substitutions where PCB space and height are flexible.
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
Before approval, compare the latest datasheets, confirm the land pattern, check reflow compatibility, calculate ripple-current heating, and validate power-rail stability under load transients. For pricing and sourcing of Rubycon 8SW68M replacements such as
EEF-CX1A680R
, T520D686M010ATE018, T521D686M010ATE030, and 10SVP68M, obtain quotations through IC-Components.com or email Info@IC-Components.com.
EEF-CX1A680R
Panasonic Electronic Components
CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 10V SMD
14734
