Introduction

AVX (later acquired by KYOCERA AVX) was once a major global supplier of HV ceramic capacitors. Its HP/HW/HK/HD/HE/HZ series doorknob capacitors were widely used in medical imaging, industrial NDT, power equipment, and more. In October 2018, AVX announced its exit from the HV doorknob capacitor market — following Murata's earlier exit in August 2018 — creating a massive global supply gap.

This white paper, based on eight years of HVC's successful replacement experience across AVX, Murata, Vishay, and other brands, provides detailed performance comparison data to serve as a reliable reference for engineers and procurement managers.

1. AVX HV Ceramic Capacitor Technology Background

1.1 AVX Product Series Overview

1.2 AVX Technology Features & Limitations

Ceramic Dielectric: Strontium Titanate Class 2 ceramic — moderate temperature stability, higher dissipation factor (0.15%-0.25% @1KHz).

Electrode Process: Silver brushed electrode, posing silver migration risk and limiting long-term reliability.

Package: Single-chip structure, voltage ceiling of 100KV but limited capacitance (max 2100pF at 50KV).

Environmental: Some models use Y5S dielectric with lead content, subject to RoHS exemption limitations.

2. HVC vs AVX: Comprehensive Performance Comparison

2.1 Core Technical Parameter Comparison

2.2 Mechanical Compatibility Comparison

3. Measured Data Comparison

3.1 Temperature Characteristic Comparison

3.2 Aging Test Comparison (1000 hours @ rated temp)

3.3 HV Stress Test Comparison

4. Vishay & Murata Replacement Success Cases

4.1 Vishay 715C Series Replacement Case

Background: A medical equipment manufacturer was using Vishay 715C20KTD40 (20KV 4000pF) but facing 34-week lead times and premium pricing.

Solution: HVC provided HVCT8G-20KV-DL60-402K with N4700 Class 1 dielectric (Vishay uses Y5U Class 2 for this model).

Test Results:

Customer Feedback: "HVC not only solved our lead time problem — the N4700 dielectric made our equipment more stable under HV pulse conditions." — Technical Director, medical equipment manufacturer

4.2 Murata DHS Series Replacement Case

Background: Murata announced discontinuation of DHS/DHK series HV ceramic capacitors in August 2018, creating a supply chain crisis for countless companies worldwide.

Murata DHS Series Typical Models:

Success Story: An industrial NDT equipment manufacturer originally using Murata DHS40E40102M tested HVC as a replacement after production ceased. Performance was fully compliant, and the product has been in volume production for 3 years with zero failures.

4.3 Cross-Brand Replacement Experience Summary

5. AVX Complete Quick Selection Table (64 HP Series Full Mapping)

Below is the complete AVX HP series quick selection table with all 64 models, grouped by voltage level:

5.1 15KV Grade

5.2 20KV Grade

5.3 30KV Grade

5.4 40KV Grade

5.5 50KV Grade

5.6 60KV Grade

5.7 100KV Grade (HVC has surpassed)

6. HVC Part Number Decoder

HVCT8G - 50KV - DL50 - 102 - K
  │        │      │      │    └─ Tolerance: K=±10%, M=±20%
  │        │      │      └────── Nominal Capacitance: 102=1000pF (10×10²)
  │        │      └──────────── Size Code (diameter × height, mm)
  │        └─────────────────── Rated Voltage
  └──────────────────────────── Series: HVCT8G = Standard doorknob capacitor

Size Code Reference:

7. Success Stories: 8 Years of Replacement Experience

"After AVX exited, we evaluated multiple replacement solutions. HVC's HVCT8G series not only met performance specs — the N4700 dielectric made our equipment more stable at -40°C. We've been in volume production for 4 years with zero failures."
— Technical Director, medical imaging equipment manufacturer

"We were using Vishay 715C with a half-year lead time. After switching to HVC, lead time dropped to 5 weeks, cost was reduced by 30%, and the N4700 dielectric is much more stable than the original Y5U."
— Procurement Manager, industrial NDT company

"After Murata's discontinuation, we searched for alternatives for over a year. HVC not only provided a perfect replacement but also helped optimize our circuit design — our equipment performance actually improved."
— Chief Engineer, scientific equipment integrator

8. Quality Assurance & Certification

9. Conclusion

Based on a comprehensive performance comparison between the AVX HP/HW/HK series and HVC HVCT8G series, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Technical Performance: HVC outperforms original AVX products in ceramic dielectric (N4700 Class 1 vs Strontium Class 2), electrode process (copper vs silver), and temperature range (-55°C~+125°C vs -35°C~+85°C).
2. Capacitance Coverage: HVC not only provides 1:1 replacement for all AVX models, but through its dual-chip structure offers larger capacitance options (e.g. 8000pF at 50KV vs AVX's 1650pF).
3. Voltage Extension: HVC reaches 150KV maximum, exceeding AVX's 100KV ceiling — providing more options for ultra-high voltage applications.
4. Supply Chain Advantage: 5-6 week lead time (vs AVX discontinued), 20-50% cost reduction, faster local support.
5. Multi-Brand Experience: HVC has accumulated deep replacement experience across AVX, Vishay, Murata, and TDK, with 200+ successful model replacements serving 500+ global customers.