Questions tagged [electrolytic-capacitor]
An energy-dense polarized capacitor type, used in low-frequency filtering applications.
47
questions
92
votes
11
answers
76k
views
Can you make a non-polar electrolytic capacitor out of two regular electrolytic capacitors?
There was some discussion on this question
What are some reasons to connect capacitors in series?
What are some reasons to connect capacitors in series?
which I don't see as being conclusively ...
- 28.9k
0
votes
2
answers
380
views
Replacing these capacitors?
This is a controller board for a home ventilation system. It runs fine most of the time but sometimes the ventilation stops for one minute, then starts again and runs normally for anywhere between one ...
37
votes
6
answers
42k
views
Do electrolytic capacitors have a limited shelf life?
Do electrolytic capacitors have a limited shelf life? I would like to know for both aluminium and tantalum.
- 146k
15
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Does an electrolytic capacitor degrade each time it receives reverse voltage?
I know that I mustn't connect an electrolytic capacitor reversely. It will explode if I apply the reverse voltage long enough.
But, what happens if the reverse voltage is applied for a short time? ...
- 14.2k
4
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Looking for capacitance and voltage rating - How to read electrolytic SMD capacitor labels
I need to replace an SMD capacitor on a board. The printing on it says
F1
560
2.5z
I have googled intensely but have been unable to find information on how to read such a codes.
I need to find out ...
- 153
39
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Should I discard my inventory of old electrolytic capacitors?
I have been doing hobby electronics for more than 10 years, and some of my electrolytic capacitors are easily that age. They seem to work just fine and do not show corrosion or other visible defects, ...
- 34.3k
23
votes
2
answers
41k
views
How do I decide what capacitor to use in a circuit?
I am using a voltage regulator, and to get cleaner power, the datasheet recommends using a 0.33uF capacitor. However, it doesn't say what type it wants. Stupidly, I ...
- 3,810
22
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Why are electrolytic capacitors still in production?
What are the advantages of using electrolytic capacitors?
I know in the past electrolytic capacitors would have more capacitance, but with Multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) they seem completely ...
15
votes
3
answers
9k
views
I just blew a capacitor. Now what?
We worked two years on and off on this project at my friend's place. Finally we finish, I take it home. There's a power supply unit but it can't be connected directly to mains, it expects some lower ...
user17592
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Determine the polarity of aluminium electrolytic capacitor
This question was inspired by this one: Determine Polaritry of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor.
I thought that the question would be on how to determine the polarity if there are no markings and the ...
- 7,443
7
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Does the physical size of electrolytic capacitors affect how they perform?
I have two 100uF electrolytic capacitors. Same voltage rating and same temperature rating, yet one is 8 times larger than the other one, being 2x longer and having 2x the diameter.
If I want to use ...
- 1,718
3
votes
2
answers
17k
views
How to calculate capacitor's Power Rating?
How to calculate capacitors power rating (in watts)? or is there any ? i am designing a circuit to filter out noise signals i am not sure about power ratings of capacitor(electrolytic) .
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Electrolytic Capacitor Voltage Rating vs capacitance
I have always believed that it was ok to replace a capacitor with a slightly higher voltage rated one. eg 16v with 25v.Going higher than this would risk the capacitance value being out at the working ...
- 594
1
vote
2
answers
964
views
What capacitor value should I use for 3.3v from a buck converter IC?
I am relatively new to electronics and trying to design a buck converter circuit using the XL1509-ADJE1. The datasheet specifies that for the adjustable versions (which this is) you should use ...
- 15
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Avoiding electrolytic capacitors in high-pass filters with sub-Hz cut-off
We need to design a HPF filter to AC couple a bipolar signal to a high gain amplifier. Any substantial DC left would saturate the amplifier, and thus it must be removed with the high-pass filter(HPF)....
- 167
75
votes
6
answers
13k
views
What happened to electrolytic capacitors in the 21st century?
We can sometimes see decades-old capacitors (such as ones made in the USSR) still working. They are bigger and heavier, but durable and not desiccating. Modern aluminium capacitors serve for about 11 ...
- 958
15
votes
2
answers
9k
views
What is the "CV" unit for leakage current in a capacitor datasheet?
I've looked at a few leakage current specifications for electrolytic capacitors, and they all seem to specify the value as something like this:
I < 0.01 CV or 3 (μA) after 2 minutes, whichever ...
- 10.8k
13
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Highest energy density electrolytic capacitors
I'm building a project that involves discharging a fairly large capacitor through a pair of electromagnetic coils. It's electrically very similar to a coilgun, though for a different application. I ...
- 731
12
votes
1
answer
22k
views
Recognizing good quality electrolytic capacitors
Too often we get / give the advice to replace all electrolytic capacitors on a PCB when it starts to malfunction (like in DVD player power supply circuit strange behavior. Need help to understand root ...
- 33.3k
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Reason why polarized electrolyic on audio line doesn't blow up
I've seen the low-end IC audio amp datasheets recommending a simple (polarized) electrolytic on signal input, even for a split supply circuit that doesn't DC-bias the input. For example the datasheet ...
9
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Should ventless electrolytic capacitors be mounted upside down?
I read in this CDE application guide and this Nichicon application guide that if a screw terminal electrolytic capacitor is installed upside-down, the vent may not function properly and the ...
- 17.6k
9
votes
3
answers
59k
views
Polarity of unmarked smt electrolytic capacitor
I have a kit with three capacitors, described in the parts list as "10uF 25V SMD 1206" and shown on the circuit diagram as polarised (an open rectangle and a filled one). Seen through the transparent ...
- 2,200
8
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Why does an ideal capacitor give rise to a rectangular cyclic voltammogram (CV)?
Many scientists are interested in developing supercapacitors, which have electrolyte rather than solid dielectric between the charged plates. In the field of electrochemistry, cyclic voltammetry (CV) ...
- 175
7
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What are markings on top of electrolytic capacitors?
I often see a marking like the following pattern on the top of radial PTH elcos.
What does it mean? Is it an identification of the manufacturer?
- 146k
7
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Is a minimum of 1000µF capacitance needed between an lm386's output and a speaker and if so why?
In this video explaining how to make an audio amplifier, the narrator warns
Don’t be misled by crappy schematics…with low values like 100 µF. You want to use at least 1000 µF [between the LM386's ...
- 201
4
votes
3
answers
902
views
MLCC as SMPS filter caps
This question is out of curiosity. I know fairly well that mains SMPS can suffer from bad electrolytic caps. Now I wonder if replacing all electrolytics with MLCCs work? Will it make a more durable ...
- 2,873
4
votes
2
answers
440
views
MAX682 with electrolytic capacitors
In a new design I would like to use the MAX682. In the datasheet I found this typical operating circuit:
I would like to use it exactly like that except that I'm going to pull /SKIP to GND.
In table ...
user17592
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
AMS1117 33 sot223: is it ok with ceramic capacitors?
This is the datasheet of voltage regulator that I would use:
http://www.advanced-monolithic.com/pdf/ds1117.pdf
Is it possible to exchange that 22uF with an equivalent (or larger) ceramic instead of ...
- 303
3
votes
2
answers
24k
views
Can two electrolytic capacitors be made into a bipolar? [duplicate]
I know if you put an electrolytic capacitor backwards they explode and it's quite fun to observe them exploding. I am wondering if you can use two of them (and some diodes) to turn it into a bipolar ...
- 10.2k
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why do bipolar electrolytic capacitors have a long and short lead?
Ok maybe not all, but the Nichicon UES series of bipolar "audio-grade" electrolytic through-hole caps have a short lead and a long lead..
Why?
The datasheet has nothing to say about it.
This ...
user156429