Simple question...Do ceramic capacitors have to be oriented in a specific way like electrolytic do? positive/negative ??? Any help would be great, Thanks, Lucas
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17 years ago
Capacitor orientation
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17 years ago
Simple answer: No.
Bob M.
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17 years ago
Complex answer:For shielding it can be important to know which connection is to the top and which to the bottom,Some caps have a line along the side,that shows it is connected to the outside(with a wound cap), or top(with a layered one). But it is not important for the dc +/- orientation.
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17 years ago
Beyond that, ceramic *disc* capacitors are symmetrical, so it truely doesn't matter.
Tim
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17 years ago
-- The Chinese ones do. ;)
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17 years ago
In very critical applications, like HF amplifiers and stuff, it _might_ make a difference as to which side of the capacitor is closer to what, physically. The reason being the capacitance between each plate and its surroundings.
But electrically, the cap itself couldn't care less.
There are non-polarized caps, like tubular, where the "outside foil" is marked, and usually that's connected to the side of the circuit with the less potential to ground, but again, that's mostly about strays and parasitics.
Cheers! Rich