1µF 50V and 1µF 16V - Are they interchangable

Fei · Apr 1, 2005

I am building my very first circuit. This is the circuit:

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/projects/flashl.htm

it says it requires a 1µF 16V radial capacitor...problem is the only one I have on hand is the 1µF 50V one. And radio shack doesn't sell the 16V either...are they interchangable?

David Bridgen · Apr 1, 2005

Yes, a capacitor with a higher voltage rating may be used.
(But not, generally, the other way round.)

monkeytree · Apr 1, 2005

yes but not usually the other way round

theinfamousbob · Apr 1, 2005

Bah! Radio Shack? The past few years they've gone down hill. Although they are selling Parallax Boe-Bot kits in my area now...

Dean Huster · Apr 2, 2005

Having a voltage that's a LOT higher than the required voltage can sometimes result in a change in the capacitance value (lowering) because the electrolytic action doesn't set up quite the same way as it would nearer the rated voltage. Newer caps probably aren't as prone to this as were the electrolytics of the 1960s and 1970s.

Dean

Nigel Goodwin · Apr 2, 2005

Dean Huster said:
Having a voltage that's a LOT higher than the required voltage can sometimes result in a change in the capacitance value (lowering) because the electrolytic action doesn't set up quite the same way as it would nearer the rated voltage. Newer caps probably aren't as prone to this as were the electrolytics of the 1960s and 1970s.

But one important bi-product of using a higher voltage electrolytic is the ESR value, higher voltage capacitors have lower ESR for the same value!.

Screech · Apr 2, 2005

whats esr?

Nigel Goodwin · Apr 2, 2005

Screech said:
whats esr?

Effective Series Resistance - the main failure mode of electrolytics (with the crap modern ones!) is going high ESR.

1µF 50V and 1µF 16V - Are they interchangable

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