Electronics > Beginners

What happens when you put an electrolytic capacitor the wrong way?

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Greyersting:
I would rather someone tell me instead of trying it out myself.

c4757p:
The oxide insulator on one of the foils erodes, causing the capacitor to become conductive. It becomes a short circuit, conducts a metric assload of current, and gets hot. Then the electrolyte fluid boils, building pressure, and it pops.

Try it yourself with one that has a safety vent. Why? Because big bangs are fun. >:D But don't do it with a cheapo non-vented one or you could put your eye out....

Dude... get your email address out of your signature, that'll be sniffed up faster than you can say "spam"...

w2aew:

--- Quote from: Greyersting on October 09, 2013, 02:58:31 am ---I would rather someone tell me instead of trying it out myself.

--- End quote ---

You'll let the magic smoke out. Sometimes even with a bang.

TonyPh:
I connected a small electrolytic cap backwards once. It was unvented. When it blew it scared the crap out of me.  I'm always cautious now when wiring something up to the point where I close my eyes and grimace the first time I apply power to a circuit, just in case.  :)

andtfoot:
I'm suprised no one has posted this yet... :)



(among all of the other videos on youtube of capacitors exploding)

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