Capacitor Question

[sdilucca]

A polarized capacitor will blow up if you do not connect + to + and - to -. I was reading that the reason a polarized cap works is that you use an oxidized layer as your dielectric. Is the reason for the BLOWING-UP that you reverse the oxidation by inverting the poles, and thus the dielectric disappears??? I'm not a rocket scientist, this is just a guess.

 

[peter d]

Re: Capacitor Question

You can "blow up" a capacitor by applying too much voltage to it. That I know for sure.

I have accidently connected a polarized capacitor backwards once and it didn't self-destruct.

 

[steve66]

Re: Capacitor Question

That is what I have believed for a long time. There is probably more correct "chemistry" language, but I think you (and I) have the basic idea.

Steve

 

[rattus]

Re: Capacitor Question

Electrolytic caps will conduct direct current if connected wrong. If the current is not limited, the heat causes the cap to explode.