Why is the electrolytic capacitor not polarity sensitive?












1












$begingroup$


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:



Bluetooth Audio Adapter




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







share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 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
















1












$begingroup$


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:



Bluetooth Audio Adapter




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







share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 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














1












1








1





$begingroup$


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:



Bluetooth Audio Adapter




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







share|improve this question









$endgroup$




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:



Bluetooth Audio Adapter




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






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










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














  • 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










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

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).






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    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











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4












$begingroup$

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).






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    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
















4












$begingroup$

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).






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    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














4












4








4





$begingroup$

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).






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



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).







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 1 hour ago









Ale..chenski

28k11866




28k11866










answered 1 hour ago









Robert EndlRobert Endl

1,712511




1,712511












  • $begingroup$
    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










  • $begingroup$
    @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


















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