non-polarised electrolytics
- Thread starter hitsware
- Start date
I usually put (+) to (+) but in reality it should not make any difference......but.........
For small capacitors - say, 1 uF or less - a non-electrolytic type will very
likely be satisfactory if its size - these are usually much larger - is not a
problem.
There are several approaches to using normal polarized electrolytic capacitors
to construct a non-polarized type.
None of these is really great and obtaining a proper replacement would
be best. In the discussion below, it is assumed that a 1000 uF, 25 V
non-polarized capacitor is needed.
Here are three simple approaches:
* Connect two electrolytic capacitors of twice the uF rating and at least
equal voltage rating back-back in series:
- + + -
o----------)|-----------|(-----------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
25 V 25 V
It doesn't matter which sign (+ or -) is together as long as they match.
The increased leakage in the reverse direction will tend to charge up the
center node so that the caps will be biased with the proper polarity.
However, some reverse voltage will still be unavoidable at times. For
signal circuits, this is probably acceptable but use with caution in
power supply and high power applications.
* Connect two electrolytic capacitors of twice the uF rating and at least
equal voltage rating back-back in series. To minimize any significant
reverse voltage on the capacitors, add a pair of diodes:
+---|>|----+----|<|----+
| - + | + - |
o-----+----)|----+-----|(----+------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
25 V 25 V
Note that initially, the source will see a capacitance equal to the full
capacitance (not half). However, the diodes will cause the center node
to charge to a positive voltage (in this example) at which point the diodes
will not conduct in the steady state.
However, there will be some non-linearity into the circuit under transient
conditions (and due to leakage which will tend to discharge the capacitors)
so use with care. The diodes must be capable of passing the peak current
without damage.
* Connect two capacitors of twice the uF rating in series and bias the center
point from a positive or negative DC source greater than the maximum signal
expected for the circuit:
+12 V
o
|
/
\ 1K
/
- + | + -
o----------)|-----+-----|(-----------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
35 V 35 V
The resistor value should be high compared to the impedance of the driving
circuit but low compared to the leakage of the capacitors. Of course, the
voltage ratings of the capacitors need to be greater than the bias plus the
peak value of the signal in the opposite direction.
For small capacitors - say, 1 uF or less - a non-electrolytic type will very
likely be satisfactory if its size - these are usually much larger - is not a
problem.
There are several approaches to using normal polarized electrolytic capacitors
to construct a non-polarized type.
None of these is really great and obtaining a proper replacement would
be best. In the discussion below, it is assumed that a 1000 uF, 25 V
non-polarized capacitor is needed.
Here are three simple approaches:
* Connect two electrolytic capacitors of twice the uF rating and at least
equal voltage rating back-back in series:
- + + -
o----------)|-----------|(-----------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
25 V 25 V
It doesn't matter which sign (+ or -) is together as long as they match.
The increased leakage in the reverse direction will tend to charge up the
center node so that the caps will be biased with the proper polarity.
However, some reverse voltage will still be unavoidable at times. For
signal circuits, this is probably acceptable but use with caution in
power supply and high power applications.
* Connect two electrolytic capacitors of twice the uF rating and at least
equal voltage rating back-back in series. To minimize any significant
reverse voltage on the capacitors, add a pair of diodes:
+---|>|----+----|<|----+
| - + | + - |
o-----+----)|----+-----|(----+------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
25 V 25 V
Note that initially, the source will see a capacitance equal to the full
capacitance (not half). However, the diodes will cause the center node
to charge to a positive voltage (in this example) at which point the diodes
will not conduct in the steady state.
However, there will be some non-linearity into the circuit under transient
conditions (and due to leakage which will tend to discharge the capacitors)
so use with care. The diodes must be capable of passing the peak current
without damage.
* Connect two capacitors of twice the uF rating in series and bias the center
point from a positive or negative DC source greater than the maximum signal
expected for the circuit:
+12 V
o
|
/
\ 1K
/
- + | + -
o----------)|-----+-----|(-----------o
2,000 uF 2,000 uF
35 V 35 V
The resistor value should be high compared to the impedance of the driving
circuit but low compared to the leakage of the capacitors. Of course, the
voltage ratings of the capacitors need to be greater than the bias plus the
peak value of the signal in the opposite direction.
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Depending what do you need it for, maybe it's better to buy few (or lots!) of polyester, (or MKT, etc) caps and put them in parallel to get the value you need. I understand this way you get better sound quality...
Anyway I used two electros in series for a 1st order filter and they just worked well...
I have read on internet that using at least one polyester (or other kind of non polarized caps) in parallel with the resultant of the in-series electrolytics gives better sound quality... but I'm not sure of that...
Anyway I used two electros in series for a 1st order filter and they just worked well...
I have read on internet that using at least one polyester (or other kind of non polarized caps) in parallel with the resultant of the in-series electrolytics gives better sound quality... but I'm not sure of that...
I'am recapping a old dbx160 compressor, and I need a 4.7uF/25V non polarized cap.
I could use 4x 4.7uF polarized caps and arrange them in 2 parallel pairs + to +.
What if I put 2x 10uF + to +, in order to safe space? Would the 0.6uF on each side in excess make a difference or is it neglectable?
I don't have any 4.7uF caps on hand but tons of 10uF/50V...
I could use 4x 4.7uF polarized caps and arrange them in 2 parallel pairs + to +.
What if I put 2x 10uF + to +, in order to safe space? Would the 0.6uF on each side in excess make a difference or is it neglectable?
I don't have any 4.7uF caps on hand but tons of 10uF/50V...
2x10uF should be OK, elcos tolerance is typically +-20% anyway. However, if space is not critical it's even better to go for 4.7uF MKT cap.
100 uF ceramic is going to be using X5R dielectric. This is very voltage dependent, see http://www.niccomp.com/help/VoltageCoefficientofCapacitors-032012-R1.pdfBack to back electrolytics are sooo 1990's.
When you can buy 100µF Ceramic caps, I don't see any reason to use electrolytics.
Not a good idea for a crossover
I've read about this very thing, "biasing" capacitors in crossovers, being done before with both electrolytics and other types.
Charge Coupled Crossovers Article By Jeff Poth
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/13184-pre-bias-capacitors-crossover.html
For better or worse, I haven't seen a 100uF ceramic. I can imagine it used to drive a stylus in a record cutter.Back to back electrolytics are sooo 1990's.
When you can buy 100µF Ceramic caps, I don't see any reason to use electrolytics.
Do they make ceramic capacitors big enough to be woofers?
I've used 4.7 uf and 10 uf ceramic CPO caps in place of tantalums for amp input couplers. They sounded better than the tantalums I took out, which might have been rejects due to the popcorn noise from day one.
The secret to using ceramic for couplers and filters, use 50 v caps on 2 v signals. That linearizes the voltage/capacitance curve a lot. But 10 uf 50 v COG Aerovox caps are $7 each when in stock. I usually can't buy those, got the originals on closeout at farnell for $4.78. I would suspect a 100 uf ceramic cap of being counterfeit, made with something else, a silk screen, and a spray paint can.
10 uf polyester are huge since the smallest voltage stocked I can find from an authorized distributor is 63 V.
I've looked at building a 4700 uf 80 v cap out of NP caps for a speaker protector, but despite the cost, the assembly would be bigger and weigh as much as the amp. Two 10000 uf polar electrolytic caps back to back, without the diode, sounds funny. They produce top octave IM distortion (vibrato) on Steinway piano source. I had thought about charging up polar caps with one diode from the speaker drive. Thanks to Jam (5 years later) for making that crazy idea official.
The secret to using ceramic for couplers and filters, use 50 v caps on 2 v signals. That linearizes the voltage/capacitance curve a lot. But 10 uf 50 v COG Aerovox caps are $7 each when in stock. I usually can't buy those, got the originals on closeout at farnell for $4.78. I would suspect a 100 uf ceramic cap of being counterfeit, made with something else, a silk screen, and a spray paint can.
10 uf polyester are huge since the smallest voltage stocked I can find from an authorized distributor is 63 V.
I've looked at building a 4700 uf 80 v cap out of NP caps for a speaker protector, but despite the cost, the assembly would be bigger and weigh as much as the amp. Two 10000 uf polar electrolytic caps back to back, without the diode, sounds funny. They produce top octave IM distortion (vibrato) on Steinway piano source. I had thought about charging up polar caps with one diode from the speaker drive. Thanks to Jam (5 years later) for making that crazy idea official.
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Info on X7R dielectric http://www.avx.com/docs/Catalogs/cdesc.pdf
Interestingly there is a burn in effect reducing capacitance with time.
These are ok for input/output blocking and amplifier negative feedback dc blocking capacitors but not for crossovers. You probably wouldn't use such high values in an active filter
Interestingly there is a burn in effect reducing capacitance with time.
These are ok for input/output blocking and amplifier negative feedback dc blocking capacitors but not for crossovers. You probably wouldn't use such high values in an active filter