What is "automotive grade"?

[Mark Hammer]

I got one of those "new products" notices from Mouser this morning, and one of the things being touted was "automotive grade" surface mount tantalum caps.

What is "automotive grade", and how is it different from mil-spec and consumer-grade?

[Seljer]

The first hit on google is wikipedia giving an example of temperature ranges https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_temperature#Ranges

Further down are is a link to Murata about ceramic capacitors where a similar notion is given http://www.murata.com/en-global/support/faqs/products/capacitor/mlcc/char/0004 (though this time it's more about temperature shock/cycles and humidity ratings)

:shrug:

[Mark Hammer]

Thanks.  That's sort of what my hunch was.  I figured that cars would likely have higher temperatures, but not necessarily much lower temperatures.

[teemuk]

I don't know, here in winter you can expect the ambient temperature under the hood to drop to minus 20 to 30 degrees of Celsius, and when the motor is running gradually rise to hotter than "sauna" temperatures. This means also radical changes in humidity levels. That, and I would expect that electronic components in cars are subjected not only to extreme temperature and humidity variations but also to rather extreme vibration and possibly dissolvent gases in the atmosphere.

But I have a hunch that ratings like "automotive grade", "computer grade", "military grade", etc. are in practice rather manufacturer-dependent.

[digi2t]

Now... if only they can come up with products that are "Teenager Grade", the world would be a much better place.

(Not to mention the parents having more money in their pockets  )

[Blitz Krieg]

just don't buy automotive grade ignition switches

[PRR]

Consumers and factories (industrial) don't usually operate below freezing.

Cars obviously do. Even in my mild coastal micro-clime I can hit -20 C, yet I expect the Honda to whirr-whirr a little longer then fire right up (the brain is doing the right things at the right times and right amounts). Our inland and northern neighbors see -40 C every winter.

125 C (well above boiling) in a car seems hot but not impossible. Pressure radiators will exceed 100C so there's hot air in the engine compartment. Exhausts run far hotter and some car designers stupidly put electronics far too close.

Automotive is also much higher vibration than most uses (though the back of the Econoline may compare).

I remember some early car electronics used standard grade parts and failed a lot. Radios no big deal, but I gather that car engine computers didn't go into production until they had up-rated the parts to survive torture tests.

The Military demands even better, and MUCH more testing, so the cost is generally absurd (much more than car makers are ready to pay).

[bool]

automotive = "mil. grade" for civilians