How do I find my quartz crystal or quartz oscillator quickly and easily?

From data sheet to desired product in four steps - with the PETERMANN-TECHNIK product configurator

Are you starting a new design or a new development, or are you looking for a second source solution? The data sheet of your microcontroller or transceiver states which reference frequency is required - let's say 32 MHz with 8 pF load capacitance and maximum 40 Ω ESR. You also need a 32.768 kHz clock crystal for the RTC.

That sounds manageable so far. But then the real search begins: Which housing? What frequency tolerance? Which temperature range? SMD or THT? Ceramic or metal? 2-pad or 4-pad? Which product is available for the long term? Which one does the manufacturer supply from stock? And if you need a crystal oscillator instead of a quartz crystal - SPXO, TCXO, VCXO, VCTCXO or an OCXO?

Choosing the right frequency-generating component is one of the underestimated tasks in hardware design. It requires the interaction of technical parameters with practical factors such as availability, housing size, price and qualification (e.g. AEC-Q200 for automotive).

This article shows you a structured path from the requirement to the right product - and how you can use the product configurators from PETERMANN-TECHNIK GmbH to define, enquire about and order your desired quartz crystal or oscillator as a sample in just a few moments.

The first decision concerns the basic product category:

Crystal Resonator

A crystal resonator is a passive component. It requires the oscillator circuit in the microcontroller or transceiver to oscillate. This is by far the most common solution for most applications.

Choose a crystal oscillator if: - Your IC has an integrated oscillator (this is the case with virtually all modern MCUs and transceivers) - Cost and space requirements are to be minimised - The frequency requirements can be met with a passive crystal (typically up to ±20 ppm overall accuracy)

→ To the crystal oscillator configurator: petermann-technik.de/produkte/quarz-konfigurator.html

Quartz oscillator (crystal oscillator)

A crystal oscillator is an active component with an integrated oscillator circuit. It provides a ready-made clock signal and only requires a supply voltage.

Select a crystal oscillator if: - your IC does not have an integrated oscillator - you require a higher frequency accuracy than a passive crystal can offer - temperature compensation is required (TCXO: ±0.5 to ±2.5 ppm) - you require voltage-controlled frequency tuning (VCXO, VCTCXO) - you do not want to leave the transient behaviour to the IC (e.g. for safety-critical designs with FPGAs)

The common oscillator types at a glance:

→ To the quartz oscillator configurator: petermann-technik.de/products/quartz-oscillators.html

Before opening the configurator, you should have the following parameters from your IC's data sheet ready:

For MHz oscillating crystals:

For 32.768 kHz clock crystals:

Tip: If you are unsure exactly which parameters your IC requires, use our search for reference design: Select your IC manufacturer and your specific chip type and we will show you the appropriate oscillating crystals directly. You can find this function at petermann-technik.de/produkte/hersteller-produkt-anfrage/quarze.html

Now it's easy. Open the appropriate configurator and define your desired parameters - just like configuring a new car, only faster:

This is how the oscillating quartz configurator works:

1. Select housing type: SMD ceramic (2-pad or 4-pad), SMD metal or THT metal
2. Select product category: kHz Crystal (32.768 kHz) or MHz Crystal
3. Select housing size: From the 1.2 × 1.0 mm NANO crystal to the THT classic HC-49/U
4. Filter frequency range: The configurator only shows you products that cover your desired frequency

The results list shows all suitable products at a glance - including data sheet download as PDF. Click on your desired product and define it in detail:

• Exact frequency (e.g. 32,000 MHz)
• Frequency tolerance (e.g. ±10 ppm)
• Load capacitance (e.g. 10 pF)
• Temperature range (e.g. -40 °C to +85 °C)
• Required quantity

And then - with one click:

→ "Send enquiry " - for a customised quote with price and delivery time

→ "Order sample " - for an immediate sample order, also with just one click

No phone calls, no lengthy email correspondence. Define, click, done.

Recommendation: There is the TOP-SELLER area on the PETERMANN-TECHNIK website. In this area, you will find series quartz recommendations with a subsequent purchase guarantee of >20 years. In the TOP-SELLER area you can also click directly on the product configurator of your desired product and thus define your desired product and order samples.

The quartz oscillator configurator works on the same principle:

Select the oscillator type (SPXO, TCXO, VCXO, VCTCXO), the housing size, the frequency range and the desired stability. Here too: Download the data sheet, make an enquiry or order a sample with just one click.

In addition to the classic configurator, PETERMANN-TECHNIK offers several ways to find products:

Search for reference design (IC manufacturer)

Do you know which IC you are using, but are unsure about the crystal? Select your IC manufacturer and chip type and we will show you suitable, qualified oscillating crystals. This is particularly useful if you are implementing a reference design from Semtech, Nordic, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Espressif or another manufacturer.

Search by application

Do you know in which area your product is used (Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi, automotive, smart metering, ...), but not which crystal you need? The application-based search filters the range according to your area of application.

Cross reference

Do you already have a quartz from another manufacturer in your design and are looking for an alternative? The cross-reference search helps you to find a compatible product - particularly valuable in end-of-life situations.

Ex-stock range

When time is of the essence: Our ex-stock range includes the most popular oscillating crystals and oscillators for immediate delivery.

Would you like to see the configurator in action before you use it yourself? You can find short video tutorials on our YouTube channel that demonstrate the selection process step by step:

→ PETERMANN-TECHNIK on YouTube: youtube.com/@PETERMANN-TECHNIK

The videos show, among other things: - How to find your desired product in just a few clicks in the quartz oscillator configurator - How the quartz oscillator configurator works - How to place a sample order directly in the configurator

If you are starting a new design and looking for the fastest way to the right crystal, here are our most recommended products - long-term available and proven in thousands of applications:

MHz oscillating crystals:

32,768 kHz clock crystals:

All products are based on our own LRT technology (Low ESR Resonator Technology) from PETERMANN-TECHNIK - manufactured with in-house produced quartz resonators and 100% tested at 0 dppm failure rate.

→ Configurator instead of catalogue: Define your desired product according to your exact parameters - not according to what a standard catalogue provides.

→ One click for an enquiry or sample: no need to send a cumbersome email. Enquire or order samples directly from the configurator.

→ Five ways to access the product: classic configurator, search by IC reference design, search by application, cross reference or ex-stock range - you choose the way that best suits your project.

→ LRT technology: All oscillating crystals with resistance-optimised resonators for maximum transient response reliability.

→ Long-term availability: Our top-selling products are guaranteed for your series production for years to come. No EOL risk.

→ Automotive-ready: Numerous products AEC-Q200-qualified for the most demanding automotive and medical applications.

1. clarify component type: Crystal oscillator (passive) or quartz oscillator (active)?

2. determine the technical requirements: Frequency, load capacitance, ESR, tolerance, temperature range - everything can be found in your IC's data sheet.

3. use the configurator: Select housing, frequency range and parameters. The configurator shows all suitable products.

4. enquire or order: Request a quote or order a sample with just one click.

Need help with your selection? Our frequency experts are there for you - by phone, e-mail or via the contact form on our website.

Start your product search now:

→ Oscillating quartz configurator → Quartz oscillator configurator → Search for IC reference design → Video tutorials on YouTube → More practical knowledge articles