If you've ever opened a procurement spreadsheet and seen C300 next to a KEMET part number, you probably asked the same question I did: what is a KEMET C300?
Here's the short answer: C300 is a CAGE code, not a capacitor series. It is a five-character Commercial and Government Entity code used for one of the KEMET entities in government and aerospace supply chains. When an engineer writes 'KEMET C300' on a BOM, they usually mean 'the KEMET device that has to trace back to that CAGE code.' When a buyer writes it, they mean 'make sure the paperwork ties to the right KEMET legal entity.'
I'm an office administrator for a mid-sized engineering company, and I manage about 60-80 component orders a year. KEMET is one of the brands I buy most, so I've had to figure this out the hard way. This is the comparison buyers need but don't always get: CAGE code vs. part number, and authorized distribution vs. gray-market listings.
One word before we go further: 'charged' shows up in two different ways in KEMET conversations. A capacitor is a charge-storage device, so a KEMET charged capacitor simply means a capacitor that has stored energy. KEMET Charged is also the name of the company's technical content library. Both are worth knowing, but only one will show up on an invoice.
What Is a KEMET CAGE Code?
A CAGE code is basically a company fingerprint for government and defense-related purchasing. According to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), it identifies a commercial or government entity that supplies items. The code appears in NSN records, contracts, invoices, and packing lists.
KEMET's product families—ceramic capacitors, tantalum capacitors, relays, connectors—are all devices in the electronics sense. But in a procurement system, a device also has a CAGE code attached to it. That is where C300 comes in. The KEMET CAGE code I am asked about most is C300. It is an entity identifier, not a part number.
Quick distinction: A CAGE code tells you who made it. A part number tells you what it is. You need both to order the right device.
I assumed 'same part number' meant 'same result' across vendors. Didn't verify. Turned out the part number was identical, but the CAGE code on the packing slip was a distributor's code, not KEMET's C300. That order cost us a week of compliance questions.
When a contract calls out C300, I run it through the DLA CAGE code search, then ask the supplier to put the same KEMET CAGE code on their quote. If they can't, I assume the traceability would fall apart later. It's a quick screen that has saved me from a few bad orders.
The Real Comparison: Authorized Distribution vs. Gray-Market Listings
Once you understand C300, the next question is who can actually provide a legitimate KEMET device. Here is the A/B comparison I use:
Dimension 1: Traceability
Authorized distributors can tie their quote back to a KEMET CAGE code or the factory. If you ask for the manufacturer's name, CAGE code, and lot traceability, you get it without a long pause.
Gray-market sellers can often deliver a physical part, but the chain of custody is unclear. 'It's from KEMET' is not the same as 'it's traceable to KEMET.' If they don't know the CAGE code or say it's not needed for prototyping, that's a red flag.
Conclusion: if traceability matters, authorized distribution wins. For a one-off experimental board, it may not be a big deal.
Dimension 2: Price Transparency
This is where I have a strong opinion. I've learned to ask what's NOT included before I ask the price. An authorized quote might look higher, but it usually includes proper packaging, certificates, and no last-minute surprise fees.
A gray-market listing often shows a lower base price. Then there's a certification fee, a handling fee, a date code guarantee, or a minimum order that pushes the total above the authorized quote. In Q2 2024, I compared four KEMET capacitors this way. The gray-market total was 14% below the authorized quote on paper, but after adding the traceability fee and expedited shipping, the final invoice was 6% higher. That's the kind of transparency math I wish I'd done earlier.
Conclusion: transparent pricing beats low initial pricing. If a supplier lists all fees up front, even a higher total is easier to trust.
Dimension 3: Paperwork and Finance Approvals
For an admin buyer, invoices matter as much as parts. Authorized distributors give you a clean invoice with the KEMET name, CAGE code when needed, part number, quantity, and date of shipment. That invoice survives an audit.
A gray-market seller may give you a receipt that says 'electronic components' or 'capacitors' with no discernible manufacturer. Finance will reject that. In 2023, I had a $2,400 expense report rejected because the invoice didn't match our purchasing requirements. The parts were probably fine; the paperwork wasn't.
Conclusion: when your finance team has to approve the order, documentation is a deal-breaker. A cheap price is meaningless if the invoice doesn't clear.
Dimension 4: Storage and Date Codes
KEMET capacitors aren't all simple glue-on-board parts. Moisture-sensitive components require proper storage, and ceramic capacitors can crack under mechanical stress. Authorized distributors follow storage requirements and rotate date codes.
I learned this after a batch of 'in stock' KEMET parts arrived in re-reeled packaging with inconsistent date codes. They probably worked, but we couldn't prove they were fresh or properly handled. For anything that goes into a product you're shipping, that's a gamble.
Conclusion: an authorized supplier's storage standards are worth something. A bag of unmarked reels is not a supply chain.
What Should You Buy?
Here's the scenario-based answer, not a one-size-fits-all lecture:
- Prototyping: buy from an authorized distributor or through KEMET's official distribution network. The price difference is small and the accountability is built in.
- Government or aerospace requirement: use the CAGE code from the contract. If it says C300, verify that the supplier can trace to C300 before you order.
- Cost-sensitive non-critical project: a gray-market listing can work, but treat it as an experiment. Be prepared to throw the parts away if they don't meet specs.
- Production: authorized only. Your BOM and your customer's trust depend on consistency.
And to be fair: if you don't specifically need a KEMET device, don't pay a brand premium just for the name. The point is to buy what you spec from someone who can prove it.
KEMET Charged and Final Thoughts
One more thing I wish I'd known earlier: KEMET Charged is a technical library the company publishes for engineers. It covers capacitor behavior, voltage derating, DC bias, and other device-level topics. I'm not an engineer, but it helps me understand what a design team means when they write 'KEMET charged capacitor' or 'check the device voltage.'
As of January 2025, this is the process I use: verify the CAGE code, ask for a complete quote, and check the invoice against the contract before the parts arrive. Pricing changes, product lines change, and CAGE databases get updated, so do your own current verification.
My experience is based on a few hundred orders in the mid-range price band, mostly under 1,000 pieces. If you're buying millions of components or working with mil-spec requirements, your checklist will be stricter. But the principle is the same: C300 is a KEMET identifier, not a part number, and the cheapest quote is not the same as the clearest quote.
Trust me on this one—knowing the difference has saved me more than once.
