On Sat, 8 Jul 2006 18:25:43 -0400, you wrote:
Capacitors are basically two pieces of metal separated by a small space.
Michael Faraday found that by placing two metal plates in close
proximity an electrical charge could be stored for a short period of
time.
As with mechanical things the use and load has to be taken into account
like a domestic Toyota Camary's engine does not have the strength of its
components to make it a NASCAR winner.
Caps are manufactured to withstand certain voltages and well as the
storage (Farads) usually micro-farads.
If you break open a modern capacitor (older ones were in a cardboard
tube and used to explode - literally!) you will find a waxed strip of
paper with corresponding strips of aluminium foil on both sides - this
is the place where the storage of electron happens.
Imagine a tap (faucet) and a bucket. Turn on the tap and the bucket
fills up. As electrons travel from negative to positive (yes they do)
we can liken it to an unrestricted flow into the bucket so we make a
hole in it to allow a certain amount to flow out. this regulated how
fast the cap charges up. Test - go to your bathroom and turn on both
basin taps - watch the basin fill up slowly (do not put the plug in) now
if you cover the plug hole with your hand you can regulate the speed
that the basin fills - this is the job of the resistor or tap.
If caps are subject to excessive heat the sealing compound will expand
and the case will leak = dead cap. If there is too much voltage = dead
cap.
Manufacturing cost dictate the quality of components so if the expected
voltage on a cap is - say 12v they might put in an 18v cap whereas an
expensive or good quality manufacturer would use a 24v or 36v cap.
>On 8 Jul 2006 at 21:13, Gaffer wrote:
>
>> It might help to understand why capacitors, in particular Electrolytic
>> ones fail, possibly more than any other electronic component.
>> Particularly on mainboards.
>
Sir Hugh of Bognor
--
Remember. You may honestly believe that you understood everything
you thought I said but what you thought you heard wasn't
exactly what I said.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
E38
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK
--
----------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Is your picture included in the Official Win-Home List Members Profiles Page?
http://www.besteffort.com/winhome/Profiles.html
If not, write to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
