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LFM

Capacitor type and polarity

Ceramic or electrolytic, and does polarity matter? Read the value against the two ranges on the right, then choose. Ceramics (below about a microfarad) are not polarized; electrolytics (a microfarad and up) are.

A circuit calls for a capacitor across a  V supply. What type is it, and does polarity matter?

Ceramic

100nF
Range
pF to ~1 µF
Polarized?
No
Leads
Either way

Electrolytic

100µF +
Range
~1 µF to mF
Polarized?
Yes
+ lead
Longer
− lead
Striped side