Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #11035
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: John Bachman bachman@anatek.mv.com
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 16:33:39 -0500
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: printer caps?
At 09:45 PM 2/25/00 , you wrote:
>I'm confused. What does the voltage reading actually have to do with it??
>-William
The voltage rating of a capacitor is just that, a rating. Keep the applied voltage across the capacitor under its rating and it should have a long and happy life. If you exceed the rating the capacitor will probably fail, not right away for a small excursion above the rating, but soon. Many volts above the rating and the smoke comes out. No electronic devices work after letting their smoke out.
For robotics applications one should use the smallest voltage rating available and still suitable as that will result in the smallest size and weight.
There are many other nuances surrounding capacitors but this is the basics of voltage rating.
John
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