MLCCs used in lighting ballast circuits can be exposed to voltages over 1000 VDC. A block diagram of typical lighting ballast is shown here. The capacitors in this circuit are prone to both surface arc-over and internal breakdown. In either event, failure may result when surface arc-over causes the circuit to be de-stabilized, which may in turn cause damage to surrounding components even if the capacitor remains temporarily functional. A series of recent technology breakthroughs have resulted in a new range of surface-mount MLCCs that are better suited for the ballast application than any previous type of capacitor.