[sdiy] capacitor voltage ratings

[John Henson]

To an extent this is true.
You can (and probably should) replace 16V caps with 25V ones if your voltage
rails are + & - 12V or 15V.
The downside is that the capacitance of electrolytics is dependent on the
voltage across them.
If memory serves, electrolytics only come close to their specified
capacitance if the voltage across them is within 75 or 80% of their
specified voltage.
Thus, space considerations aside, putting 100V or higher Caps across synth
type power supplies is largely self defeating.
This problem does not occur with film type caps.
Regards
John Henson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 8:20 PM
Subject: [sdiy] capacitor voltage ratings


>
> Hey everyone,
> Yet another newbie question here.
> I am curious about the voltage ratings on capacitors.  I was buying some
> from www.Jameco.com earlier today and I was trying to figure out the
> dirrefences in price and the differences between the different
products....
> If I have a previous circuit that I am trying to copy and the old one uses
> 100uF caps at 16V can I substitute 25V?  50V?  Why are some cheaper than
> others?
>
> Also, in the CGS parts lists (soon to build my Steiner VCF), some of the
> modules list caps at a particular voltage.  If I am substituting, is it
> irrelevant as long as it is a higher value than the given specifications?
>
> Thanks for any info...
>
>
> Rafael
>
>
>