Capacitor questions (newbie)

[Richardcavell]

Am I right in thinking that capacitors are unlike other electronic components in that generally the negative end is connected to a negative source and the positive end is connected to a positive source?

Let me explain: If you wanted to connect a bunch of diodes in forward bias, you would connect the negative end of each one to the positive end of the next, and then they would all work. +ve to -ve and -ve to +ve, right? But with a capacitor in series with a diode, you connect the positive end of the capacitor to the positive end of the diode.

Richard

 

[BrownOut]

Diodes don't have negative and positive ends, they have anodes and cathodes. For conduction, you must forward bias the diode, which means the anode has to be more positive than the cathode, by at least ~.6V. Both diodes and capacitors may be connected in series. But I don't know what you mean by "connect the positive end of the capacitor to the positive end of the diode" Maybe you can show a diagram???

 

[Dr_Doggy]

your idea is correct, but you can add caps + to - too,,

resistors value in series addup
capacitors value in parallel addup

diodes are like one way valves in series it looks like: +vcc +d- +d- +d- -gnd <--thats forward bias(allows flow)

only polarized capacitors need to be biased, but can be put in series

I dont get your third question either....