Why is the electrolytic capacitor not polarity sensitive?
$begingroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF electrolytic capacitor in series with a microphone and weirdly, the circuit works even if I toggle the polarity of the capacitor, that is the capacitor can be inserted in either polarity to make the circuit work.
Why does this happen? What are the criteria for doing so intentionally? Additionally, if I am to substitute a ceramic capacitor with an electrolytic capacitor, in what polarity should the capacitor be inserted?
Schematic:
This schematic is based on the manufacturer's schematic, in which also, a ceramic capacitor of 2.2uF is used.
This question is referring to the MIC portion of the schematic only.
microphone electrolytic-capacitor polarity
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
$endgroup$
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF electrolytic capacitor in series with a microphone and weirdly, the circuit works even if I toggle the polarity of the capacitor, that is the capacitor can be inserted in either polarity to make the circuit work.
Why does this happen? What are the criteria for doing so intentionally? Additionally, if I am to substitute a ceramic capacitor with an electrolytic capacitor, in what polarity should the capacitor be inserted?
Schematic:
This schematic is based on the manufacturer's schematic, in which also, a ceramic capacitor of 2.2uF is used.
This question is referring to the MIC portion of the schematic only.
microphone electrolytic-capacitor polarity
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF electrolytic capacitor in series with a microphone and weirdly, the circuit works even if I toggle the polarity of the capacitor, that is the capacitor can be inserted in either polarity to make the circuit work.
Why does this happen? What are the criteria for doing so intentionally? Additionally, if I am to substitute a ceramic capacitor with an electrolytic capacitor, in what polarity should the capacitor be inserted?
Schematic:
This schematic is based on the manufacturer's schematic, in which also, a ceramic capacitor of 2.2uF is used.
This question is referring to the MIC portion of the schematic only.
microphone electrolytic-capacitor polarity
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
$endgroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF electrolytic capacitor in series with a microphone and weirdly, the circuit works even if I toggle the polarity of the capacitor, that is the capacitor can be inserted in either polarity to make the circuit work.
Why does this happen? What are the criteria for doing so intentionally? Additionally, if I am to substitute a ceramic capacitor with an electrolytic capacitor, in what polarity should the capacitor be inserted?
Schematic:
This schematic is based on the manufacturer's schematic, in which also, a ceramic capacitor of 2.2uF is used.
This question is referring to the MIC portion of the schematic only.
microphone electrolytic-capacitor polarity
microphone electrolytic-capacitor polarity
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
edited 21 hours ago
Utkarsh Verma
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
asked yesterday
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
338
338
2
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
2
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
An aluminum electrolytic will handle a reverse polarity of about 1 volt or so. The cap probably never sees anything near that.
This appnote from Nichicon shows that under 1V the capacitors don't have much of leakage and seems fully functional, see Fig.2-2, with little degradation (see Fig.2-3).
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
An aluminum electrolytic will handle a reverse polarity of about 1 volt or so. The cap probably never sees anything near that.
This appnote from Nichicon shows that under 1V the capacitors don't have much of leakage and seems fully functional, see Fig.2-2, with little degradation (see Fig.2-3).
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An aluminum electrolytic will handle a reverse polarity of about 1 volt or so. The cap probably never sees anything near that.
This appnote from Nichicon shows that under 1V the capacitors don't have much of leakage and seems fully functional, see Fig.2-2, with little degradation (see Fig.2-3).
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An aluminum electrolytic will handle a reverse polarity of about 1 volt or so. The cap probably never sees anything near that.
This appnote from Nichicon shows that under 1V the capacitors don't have much of leakage and seems fully functional, see Fig.2-2, with little degradation (see Fig.2-3).
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
$endgroup$
An aluminum electrolytic will handle a reverse polarity of about 1 volt or so. The cap probably never sees anything near that.
This appnote from Nichicon shows that under 1V the capacitors don't have much of leakage and seems fully functional, see Fig.2-2, with little degradation (see Fig.2-3).
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
edited 23 hours ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
28k11866
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
answered 23 hours ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,757511
1,757511
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@UtkarshVerma, please read the Nichicon article and make your own determination. The article mentions " progressing formation of an oxide layer on the cathode electrode", so the cap might not last longer than 200-300 hours.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
$begingroup$
It depends on the voltage rating. At one time we safely used -10%
$endgroup$
– Sunnyskyguy EE75
20 hours ago
add a comment |
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2
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
That is likely a ceramic capacitor. Unless noted otherwise you can assume all aluminum and tantalum capacitors ARE polarized. If you install them backwards across power supply rails (or they have an internal short, much less common in recent decades) they tend to go BANG with some violence, possibly charring the PCB. A ceramic capacitor is not polarized unless it has a black band or polarity mark at one end.
$endgroup$
– Sparky256
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
At millivolt level and and a small reverse bias a polarized capacitor doesn't care, at least for a short time. Over time it might die much earlier than you expect. Don't try it again.
$endgroup$
– Ale..chenski
23 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
23 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
You only mention the capacitor that you first used was 2.2uF and that it worked in both polarities. However, you never mentioned what type of capacitor it actually was. 2.2uF makes it likely that it was a bipolar type and if it was, of course it would have worked in both directions.
$endgroup$
– Toor
22 hours ago