What you say would be true for 'normal' capacitors in
series, but the approximate equivalent circuit of an
electrolytic capacitor is usually given as a capacitor
in parallel with a diode. Thus the effective capacity
would not be half. (I'll admit that I have never made
any detailed analysis to confirm that equivalent
circuit in great detail)

--- Bella Lugosi <batzcuz@...> wrote:

> Thanks Don...for bringing it up, but you're missing
> Detail~
> CAPs in Series, function like RESISTORs in
> PARALLEL!
> [If 2 equal R's in parallel, or equal C's in
> series, gives 1/2]
>
> If you want to make a 10-mfd (NP) CAP, you will
> need to
> wire two 20-mfd Polarized Caps in Series
> (back-to-back).
> Placing two 10-mfd caps in series...will yield,
> only 5-mfd.
> Some (audio-freq/low signal) applications are not
> critical,
> and while nice to get NP performance...reality
> prevailes?
> Power-distribution & motors DO-NOT use
> non-polarized!
>
> Most electrolytic caps, were manufactured with
> negative
> connection to the outside of the caps physical
> package,
> which is best in HVDC applications with case
> grounded.
> It's not wise when placed in series (floating) no
> grounds!
> Ok, my point being...wire 2 caps (-) to (-)...not
> (+) to (+),
> which helps to isolate, contacting outer (-) can =
> zaps..!
>
> Also note, if two Caps are equal-capacity (not
> likely) you
> can then operate new/(NP) series combo-caps, at
> higher
> WVDC/(operating-voltage) than original cap
> specification.
> For safety reasons, cap cannot be assumed to be
> same
> capacity of any other-caps that it is being
> paired-up with.
> As a ckt. designer, if I placed 2 (35-wvdc) caps
> in series,
> then might run combos...up to maybe 50-vdc...not
> to 70!
>
> FYI: If CAP VALUES are NOT EQUAL, then for SAFETY
> in AC (signal) voltage distribution...never
> exceed, WVDC
> values identified for the lowest capacitor in
> series-string!
>
> Hope my simplified (equation free) version, was
> helpfull?
> Parallel Caps/(Series Resistor) math is very
> simple, but
> equations are not that easy to represent here via
> typing.
> [Refer to any elementry electronics book, with
> formulas]
>
> ^BATZCUZ^
>
> P.S. I know, thinking what does some little BAT
> know,
> about electronics theory...(LoL) we had SONAR
> First...
> took humans eons to discover Batz (midnight)
> Secrets.
> ========================================
>
> Don Hildreth <w6nrw2@...> wrote:
> Just because I haven't seen it mentioned here.
> And just because there may be thousands of polarized
> electrolytic capacitors out there for every
> available non-polarized (NP)electrolytic capacitor,
> the following is what to do to make an NP
> electrolytic
> if you only can find the polarized kind: Put two (2)
> equal value polarized Cs in series in polarity
> opposition. That is, connect the two + ends or the
> two minus ends together to get the series pair.
>
> BATZ: Connecting (-) to (-)
> Safer/(More-Betterest-?)!
>
> The resulting non-polarized C is equal to one of the
> pair and the combination is non-polarized.
>
> BATZ: This (new) series C+C capacitor is NOT=C...
> it's C/2 = half of what you strated out with,
> trust Bat/
> also this only holds true if both caps are equal
> "C"~!
>
>
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>
>
>
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