Bipolar Capacitor In A Pinch

[Krankshaft]

While browsing Google this morning they led me to something interesting in a capacitor article on Wikipedia.

It said that a bipolar electrolytic is just two polarized capacitors wired in series opposition.

With that said I have an example to present.

Lets say I needed a 47uf 50V Bipolar cap however I don't have one on hand but I do have 2 47uf 50V Polarized lytics.

Does that mean that I could wire these caps together one caps positive lead with the others negative (I assume that is what series oppositon means) and they would function just like a 47uf Bipolar?

Or is this like the transistor back to back diode analogy where its only for explanation purposes and in practice it would not work?

[tvtech]

Re: Bipolar Capacitor In A Pinch

I second that,done that many times when I needed a bi-polar capactior.

[starfury1]

Re: Bipolar Capacitor In A Pinch

If I remember it correctly? I'd have to check!

it can be done using 2 in series to create a "bipolar" Electrolytic
Remember that capacitance will half (I think, it does normally)
and from memory
Its a positive to positive or negative to negative
this is "series opposition"
I am not sure but possibly one is a better option then the other

if you think about it it will make sense, that if one side is positive and the other negative the center were the caps tie together will be on one side more positive on the other more negative to the two outside legs
(Think or resistors in series and the voltage drop across each one)
its case of whats more or less + - with respect to what?

The characteristics of the 2 cap will determine the mid point Voltage.
(which I think is neither here nor there in the case of small AC signals but Id probably be incline to use 2 from the same type,series)

There was a around post here about it in regard to a psu.

Yes that was my understanding is that what you buy pre made is the equivalent to this anyway.

like I said I have to check this for accuracy but think its correct.

HTH

Cheers