Which lead is negative on an old colorcoded tantalum cap?

rascalseven · Oct 3, 2007

I've got these 47uF tants, and don't know for certain which lead is negative and which is positive.

Is the lead marked by the painted stripe the negative?

Thanks and peace,

JC

sodderboy · Oct 3, 2007

I just ripped a bunch out of some Neve compressors. They had a black dot on one side, indicating the "front", of which the right side is +.
Try to charge it with a 9V battery for a second, and measure for a voltage charge. Reverse biased will not charge, or reversed VOM will show a negative reading.

Mike

nielsk · Oct 3, 2007

as a general rule, tant's are marked on the +lead, 'lytics on the -lead

bcarso · Oct 3, 2007

[quote author="nielsk"]as a general rule, tant's are marked on the +lead, 'lytics on the -lead[/quote]

Yes, and woe to those that don't know about this!

Also, if you are lucky to get ones NOT cut off of tape-and-reel, the longer lead is typically positive, a convention observed most of the time for other polarized radial-lead devices as well.

CJ · Oct 3, 2007

here, try this, works every time, 10 k saves your eye sockets:
sure fire thing

its just a diode with capacitance, thats all...

til it shorts, then its a short

dang tants!

Which lead is negative on an old colorcoded tantalum cap?

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Which lead is negative on an old colorcoded tantalum cap?

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