I'm putting together a power supply, and the caps I have for the bias are non polarized. The bias circuit is coming off the secondary pre-rectification, a la 'Wreck style if you want a visual. (No bias tap on this transformer.)
Question is, I have non-polar axials that I'd like to use. Is there any reason not to use them in this location? Or for any location, for that matter?
Thanks!
Non-Polar Capacitors
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Non-Polar Capacitors
Play your guitar(s)!
Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
I've used non-polarized without any problems. As long as you don't exceed the voltage rating, they work fine.
I don't remember checking for which lead is the outer layer, but that might be worth thinking about in a supply string.
I don't remember checking for which lead is the outer layer, but that might be worth thinking about in a supply string.
Why Aye Man
Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
Thanks Bob! They're 100v, all good there.
I did snoop around on the Google and with the site search, I didn't seem to find anything specific to the bias circuit with bipolars, though. Found out all kinds of things about them, but I have a suspicion it's not a good idea for this particular function...
I did snoop around on the Google and with the site search, I didn't seem to find anything specific to the bias circuit with bipolars, though. Found out all kinds of things about them, but I have a suspicion it's not a good idea for this particular function...
Play your guitar(s)!
Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
Bipolar caps are literally back-to-back (well, OK, + to + or - to - ) electrolytics inside. If you use them with only one polarity of voltage across them, one of the oxide layers stays unused, and may deteriorate faster - but that's OK, as it's never used.
The biggest issue is that a bipolar or non-polar of the same capacitance and voltage as a stock polar one is sometimes bigger and almost always more expensive for the same C*V product.
The biggest issue is that a bipolar or non-polar of the same capacitance and voltage as a stock polar one is sometimes bigger and almost always more expensive for the same C*V product.
Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
So why aren't all e-caps non-polar? Cost?
BTW are those big value/high volatge caps like Solens non-polar?
BTW are those big value/high volatge caps like Solens non-polar?
- martin manning
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Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
Yes and yes.rp wrote:So why aren't all e-caps non-polar? Cost?
BTW are those big value/high volatge caps like Solens non-polar?
- Leo_Gnardo
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Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
Solens I"ve seen are film caps. Non-polar all right, there is no polarized version.rp wrote:So why aren't all e-caps non-polar? Cost?
BTW are those big value/high volatge caps like Solens non-polar?
down technical blind alleys . . .
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Re: Non-Polar Capacitors
Cost, size and for ESR reasons. The cost goes up, the size goes up and the ESR doubles. Not good for switching/linear supplies but alright for what you're doing.martin manning wrote:Yes and yes.rp wrote:So why aren't all e-caps non-polar? Cost?
BTW are those big value/high volatge caps like Solens non-polar?
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.