How to Explode a Capacitor

A capacitor is a device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.

Unexpectedly the electrolytic capacitors explodes with huge sound and sometime it smoke.

Get started , how to explode a capacitor..

Step 1: Why It Explode ?

Usually the capacitor determine with capacitance value and maximum operating safe voltage rating.

Electrolytic capacitors are called as one of the plates of the capacitor is made of an ionic conducting liquid, an electrolyte. These capacitors must be connected in a fixed polarity. Hence, these capacitors cannot be used in AC circuits without a dc bias. These capacitors have a high capacitance value. Polarity is usually indicated in the capacitors with the positive lead longer than the negative lead. Alternatively, the polarity markings are made in the capacitor body.

# One of the basic reason to explode capacitor is over voltage. Since capacitor consists of two conducting parts with insulation material (dielectric) between them. That insulation have dielectric strength upto a certain limit. If a high voltage greater than rated is applied across capacitor, its dielectric strength will break down and eventually capacitor will explode.

# Electrolytic capacitors fail due to leakage or vaporization of the electrolyte inside. This can be caused due to heating in operation. Heating can be caused by either wrong connection or the use of under-rated capacitors.

# Electrolytic and Tantalum capacitors have polarity. The leads are marked positive and negative. Wrong polarity connections of these capacitors can cause explosion or failure.

Step 2: Circuiting

Set the voltage source to 0V

1. Connect Positive terminal of Voltage Source to positive terminal of the Capacitor.

2 Connect Negative terminal of Voltage source to negative terminal of the Capacitor.

Now slowly raise the voltage output of the source .

At ' Voltage input to the capacitor > maximum safe operating voltage of capacitor ' , the capacitor will explode.

Adobe 123d simulation click here

Step 3: Excess Voltage Testing

Be careful while dealing with polarized capacitors.

Don't forget to subscribe my YouTube channel [Subscribe].

Feel free to comment to improve this instructable