🔴 Electronics For Beginners - No.3 - Capacitors - No.958

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Scott 👍 So on a Y class cap, in let's say a SMPS, where the cap goes from the high voltage to the low voltage would you notice if it went faulty as it fails open? Would the device behave any differently? Or is it just good design to include one to stop the noise coming back and causing trouble to other equipment in the house. Maybe a silly question so apologies if there is not a simple answer.... Excellent series 👌

[@TheDefpom]

My understanding is that the Y class cap between the high and low side is there purely to reduce EMI by giving it a return path somewhere other than the equipment it is powering, so the noise being generated by the transformer is stopped at the source, if the Y class cap failed it will likely increase the SMPS EMC noise escaping the power supply output. That said I'm by no means an expert on SMPS!

[@Mymatevince]

@@TheDefpom Nice one Scott, cheers for the info👍

[@hello55125]

hi Scott , I'm new to electronics and loving the series! One quick question. Is there a possibility that a capacitor could discharge a dangerous voltage or current if you touch both the input and output at the same time. Many thanks

[@TheDefpom]

@@hello55125 yes, lower voltages aren’t really a problem, but when you get to higher voltages you can get a nasty shock from one.

[@hello55125]

@@TheDefpom thanks for the reply

[@imc5727]

Regarding the different package sizes are all 0603 the same value or different?

[@TheDefpom]

There are many different values for each package size.

[@alpcns]

Thanks for the effort!

[@jimsmindonline]

Wondering about the axial electrolytics. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to an axial design or is this just an "old" style package?

[@TheDefpom]

It’s just an old style package.

[@jimsmindonline]

@@TheDefpom I notice you are stocking up on these! Out of curiosity, is the 'can' of a capacitor normally connected to one of the legs? Could a normal cap be bodged to fit, in a case where these were used?

[@Peter_A1466]

So, is a class-Y capacitor designed to fail open than?

[@fredflintstone1]

How are some Condensors/Capacitors are not polarised??

[@Peter_A1466]

And to make things more confusing, non polarized electrolytic capacitors exist but are sort of a specialty product.

[@fredflintstone1]

when did Condensors become Capacitors and why?? :-)

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

when a capacitor blows in a cold room, the electrolyte condenses onto the walls! it was supposed to condense electric charge but now we know it has the capacity to hold it. also some say Condensor, I say Capacitor so lets call the whole thing a cap.😁

[@fredflintstone1]

@@TheEmbeddedHobbyist HA HA!! that must be the best explanation :-)

[@daveodessa]

I think the term condenser is still used in some parts of Europe.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@daveodessa bonus for brexit then :-0

[@Peter_A1466]

@@TheEmbeddedHobbyist I think it's a con!

[@daveodessa]

Do you have many capacitors Scott?....;-)

[@TheDefpom]

Not as many as I would like :-)