In case of reverse connection, the capacitor will not work at all and if the applied voltage is higher than the value of capacitor rating, the larger leakage current will start to flow and heat up the capacitor which lead to damage the dielectric film (the aluminum layer is very thin and easy to be broken) as compared

Can a capacitor be connected backwards?

AC or bipolar electrolytic capacitors have two anodes connected in reverse polarity. The destruction of electrolytic capacitors can have catastrophic consequences such as a fire or an explosion. If a polarized capacitor is installed incorrectly, the capacitor whistles then explodes.

Does it matter which way a capacitor goes?

It does not matter which wire goes to which terminal. It does matter which wire goes where, if it has 3 terminals.

Does a capacitor have a positive and negative side?

Electrolytic capacitors are polarized, which means the way that they are connected in a circuit matters. Electrolytic capacitors have a positive and negative side. To tell which side is which, look for a large stripe or a minus sign (or both) on one side of the capacitor.

What does the UF stand for on a capacitor?

microfarads uF refers to the size of the capacitor. 1.5 & 2.5 uf It means microfarads and is the amount of electrical energy that a capacitor is able to store for later use and in this case is used to give a boos and help to stay running (the ceiling fan ).

Can I use a different size capacitor?

Under sized (smaller than needed microfarad) will result in longer starting times, and if excessively undersized no starting. Larger than needed microfarad values will not cause much of any problems (especially for a start capacitor). A larger than needed run capacitor will not have any real affect.

Can I replace a start capacitor with a higher UF?

An electric motor start capacitors can be replaced with a micro-farad or UF equal to or up to 20% higher UF than the original capacitor serving the motor.

Which terminal of capacitor is positive?

anode On these electrolytic capacitors, theres a positive pin, called the anode, and a negative pin called the cathode. The anode always needs to be connected to a higher voltage.