Using ceramic cap instead of a polarized one

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noptical

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Hi
Newbie here so please bear with me.
I'm building a small white led driver circuit using the ICs datasheet. It requires two polarized caps, one 4.7uf and one 1uf. Can't I just use small ceramic smd caps instead (I have some lying around with high enough voltage rating)?
 
I'm just wondering, how come in the circuit in the datasheet they use polarised caps? Aren't they more expensive than ceramics?
 
noptical said:
I'm just wondering, how come in the circuit in the datasheet they use polarised caps? Aren't they more expensive than ceramics?
Click to expand...

No, electrolytics are cheaper - and MUCH smaller. 4.7uF ceramics are likely to be pretty big, are you sure your's are that high?.
 
noptical said:
Can't I just use small ceramic smd caps instead (I have some lying around with high enough voltage rating)?
Click to expand...
If you have some small ceramic smd caps lying around, it's unlikely they are 4.7µF. As Nigel noted, 4.7µF ceramic caps are quite large.
 
crutschow said:
If you have some small ceramic smd caps lying around, it's unlikely they are 4.7µF. As Nigel noted, 4.7µF ceramic caps are quite large.
Click to expand...

could have fold me on both counts:

Digi-Key - 445-5170-1-ND (Manufacturer - C1608X5R1A475K) 10V 4.7uF 0603 $0.26

Digi-Key - 445-5178-1-ND (Manufacturer - C1608X5R0J475K) 6.3V $0.13

the latter would be plenty to drive a single LED, which is what must be assumed since there is no statement to the contrary.

In production i would use the latter, if it warranted getting a new stock number, at $0.02 each on a reel.
 
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