# Crystals **URL:** \ **Category:** Product Selection Guide\ **Tags:** crystals-oscillators-resonators, crystals, passives\ **Created:** [July 6, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/crystals/32676 "2023-07-06T22:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raelynn.roen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/user_avatar/forum.digikey.com/raelynn.roen/32/46693_2.png) [@raelynn.roen](https://forum.digikey.com/u/raelynn.roen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/crystals/32676/1 "2023-07-06T22:22:32Z")
This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the [Crystals](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/crystals/171) category on [DigiKey.com](http://DigiKey.com) > Crystal products are passive components most commonly used as time or frequency references in electronic systems. Consisting of a piezoelectric crystal that mechanically vibrates at a known frequency, their use requires provision of an external oscillator circuit with carefully designed capacitance, drive voltage, and series resistance characteristics, to generate a signal at the indicated crystal frequency that operates successfully over the operating temperature range, without damaging the crystal element. Active devices which integrate this additional necessary circuitry are considered oscillators and are catalogued separately. **Selection**** Characteristics** > **Type:** Indicates the style and configuration of the device. > **Frequency:** The nominal rated frequency the device is specified to produce. > **Frequency Stability:** Characterizes output frequency variation due to temperature over a device’s rated operating temperature range, relative to the value measured at ~25°C. > **Frequency Tolerance:** Characterizes variability of resonant frequency among devices due to manufacturing variations, measured under standard test conditions. > **Load Capacitance:** The amount of external capacitance in parallel with a timing device that is required for specified operation. > **ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance):** The amount of resistance the device imparts into a circuit, effectively its resistance value if the device was replaced by a passive resistor of equal value. > **Operating Mode:** Indicates which of a crystal’s resonant modes is used to produce the indicated signal frequency. > **Operating Temperature:** Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components. > **Ratings:** Minimum performance standards of the device, which are typically set by a third party. > **Mounting Type:** Indicates how the device is attached. > **Package / Case:** Indicates the type of protective case used on an electronic component to allow easy handling, installation, and protection. This selection was determined to be the closest industry standard applicable to the suppliers device packaging. Typically it is best to check the actual dimensions from the datasheet rather than depend on this terminology when designing your circuit. > **Size / Dimension:** The physical dimensions of the device. Typically given in Length by Width, in Inches (Millimeters). > **Height - Seated (Max):** Indicates how far the device will extend above the surface to which it has been attached. **Product**** Examples** [![Image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/3X/a/6/a6f6668764edf86fde02665c1cb0cf4ab3fd294b.jpeg)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/ecs-inc/ECS-184-18-5PX-TR/827391) | MFR PART # | ECS-184-18-5PX-TR | | --- | --- | | DIGIKEY PART # | [XC1285TR-ND - Tape & Reel (TR)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/ecs-inc/ECS-184-18-5PX-TR/827391) | | MANUFACTURER | ECS Inc. | | DESCRIPTION | 18.432 MHz ±30ppm Crystal 18pF 40 Ohms HC-49/US | | DATASHEET | [Click Here](https://ecsxtal.com/store/pdf/csm-7x.pdf) | [![Image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/3X/1/4/14893ede9ee391eea93aae614c9552d01e265c94.jpeg)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/abracon-llc/AB38T-32-768KHZ/675229) | MFR PART # | AB38T-32.768KHZ | | --- | --- | | DIGIKEY PART # | [535-9034-ND](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/abracon-llc/AB38T-32-768KHZ/675229) | | MANUFACTURER | Abracon LLC | | DESCRIPTION | 32.768 kHz ±20ppm Crystal 12.5pF 30 kOhms Cylindrical Can, Radial | | DATASHEET | [Click Here](https://abracon.com/Resonators/AB38T.pdf) | [![Image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/3X/7/4/74ae0fc9f8cf822b8327892a18b84c406c3f9859.jpeg)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cts-frequency-controls/445C33D24M00000/3135787) | MFR PART # | 445C33D24M00000 | | --- | --- | | DIGIKEY PART # | [CTX1433TR-ND - Tape & Reel (TR)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cts-frequency-controls/445C33D24M00000/3135787) | | MANUFACTURER | CTS-Frequency Controls | | DESCRIPTION | 24 MHz ±30ppm Crystal 18pF 40 Ohms 2-SMD, No Lead | | DATASHEET | [Click Here](https://www.ctscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/445.pdf) | [![Image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/3X/3/d/3d8888b99cba1ae2721a036f321239dfbaff5238.jpeg)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/abracon-llc/ABM8G-25-000MHZ-4Y-T3/2623797) | MFR PART # | ABM8G-25.000MHZ-4Y-T3 | | --- | --- | | DIGIKEY PART # | [535-10915-2-ND - Tape & Reel (TR)](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/abracon-llc/ABM8G-25-000MHZ-4Y-T3/2623797) | | MANUFACTURER | Abracon LLC | | DESCRIPTION | 25 MHz ±30ppm Crystal 10pF 60 Ohms 4-SMD, No Lead | | DATASHEET | [Click Here](https://abracon.com/Resonators/ABM8G.pdf) | **Schematic**** Symbol** ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/3X/b/1/b10c0af980694623ec69a2d5a77e7f90e06aea67.png) ###### Schematic symbol courtesy of [Scheme-it](https://www.digikey.com/en/schemeit/). Please see their website for more information and symbols. **Media**** Links** Videos [Thermistor Crystals and Their Uses](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/e/ecs/thermistor-crystals-and-their-uses) [Abracon IoT Optimized Quartz Crystals](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/a/abracon/abracon-iot-optimized-quartz-crystals) [The Effects of Temperature on Quartz Crystals](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/e/ecs/the-effects-of-temperature-on-quartz-crystals) [Equivalent Series Resistance](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/e/ecs/equivalent-series-resistance) [Load Capacitance](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/e/ecs/load-capacitance) [What is Quartz Aging](https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/e/ecs/what-is-quartz-aging) Product Training Modules [Miniature CSM-3X and HC-46X Series Crystals - ECS](https://www.digikey.com/en/ptm/e/ecs-inc/miniature-csm-3x-and-hc-46x-series-crystals) [Tuning Fork Crystals and Oscillators - Abracon](https://www.digikey.com/en/ptm/a/abracon-corporation/tuning-fork-crystals-and-oscillators) [Automotive Grade Crystals and Oscillators - ECS](https://www.digikey.com/en/ptm/e/ecs-inc/automotive-grade-crystals-oscillators) [Crystals Device - Epson](https://www.digikey.com/en/ptm/e/epson/crystals) Blogs [Why My Crystal Does Not Start Up](https://www.digikey.com/en/blog/why-my-crystal-does-not-start-up) TechForum [Quartz Crystal Cuts: Angles and Properties (AT, BT, etc.)](https://forum.digikey.com/t/quartz-crystal-cuts-angles-and-properties-at-bt-etc/10217) [Crystals, Resonators, Oscillators; Can These Be Rotated?](https://forum.digikey.com/t/crystals-resonators-oscillators-can-these-be-rotated/19877) [Crystal & Resonator Differences](https://forum.digikey.com/t/crystal-resonator-differences/19872) ### If you have any general questions on the specifications for selecting [Crystals](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/crystals/171), please reply using the button below. If you have questions on specific Crystals please post those questions in the [Crystals-Oscillators-Resonators](https://forum.digikey.com/c/passives/crystals/128) category.