Polarized Capacitors are the ones that have specific positive and negative polarities. While using these capacitors in circuits, it should always be taken care that they are connected in perfect polarities. The following image shows the classification of polarized capacitors. Let’s start the discussion with Electrolytic Capacitors.
To understand polarization of capacitors it is necessary to understand the construction of these types of capacitors. Polarized capacitors are manufactured from a variety of materials. The two most popular types are aluminium electrolytic and tantalum capacitors.
However, due to the chemical nature of the film and construction used for electrolytic capacitors, there is a polarity of installation and use. Reversing the voltage on such as device will degrade and then damage it. Given this constraint, why even use polarized electrolytic capacitors at all?
Therefore, only polarized capacitors can be used for filtering. Polarized capacitors are unidirectional, meaning the positive terminal must be connected to the higher potential side, and the negative terminal to the lower potential side.
Polarized capacitors are unidirectional, meaning the positive terminal must be connected to the higher potential side, and the negative terminal to the lower potential side. Generally, electrolytic capacitors with a capacitance of 1 microfarad or more are used for coupling, decoupling, and power supply filtering.
It’s important to note that when connecting polarized capacitors in an electronic circuit, it’s essential for the correct orientation of positive and negative terminals to prevent damage to components. On the other hand, it’s safe to connect non-polarized capacitors in any orientation.