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 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 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
$endgroup$
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF 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 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF 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 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
$endgroup$
The issue
I was making a project in which I had to use a 2.2uF 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 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
asked 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
asked 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
asked 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
asked 2 hours ago
Utkarsh VermaUtkarsh Verma
288
288
1
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
|
show 4 more comments
1
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
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
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
|
show 4 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 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("schematics", function () {
StackExchange.schematics.init();
});
}, "cicuitlab");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "135"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2felectronics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f426199%2fwhy-is-the-electrolytic-capacitor-not-polarity-sensitive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
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 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
$endgroup$
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 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
edited 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
edited 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
edited 1 hour ago
Ale..chenski
28k11866
28k11866
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
answered 1 hour ago
Robert EndlRobert Endl
1,702511
1,702511
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Would you suggest its use in a circuit meant to be used for long terms?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Ale..chenski Thanks for the document. I'll read it and post what I'll conclude over here.
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2felectronics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f426199%2fwhy-is-the-electrolytic-capacitor-not-polarity-sensitive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
$begingroup$
What was the original capacitor type? Also, there is no DC bias in that part of the circuit.
$endgroup$
– Toor
2 hours ago
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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Toor What do you mean by the original capacitor type?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Sparky256 Yes, the manufacturer recommends ceramic capacitor, but I don't have such a high valued ceramic capacitor so I used an electrolytic capacitor. As above comment states(and I checked voltage levels) there is no DC bias in that portion of the circuit. Does it imply that I can't use a polarized capacitor in such case?
$endgroup$
– Utkarsh Verma
1 hour ago