Is it normal for a capacitor to get warm/hot
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- scottp3
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:25 pm
Is it normal for a capacitor to get warm/hot
I have the adafruit solar charger set up with a minty boost and all of that is working great. I am trying to charge a rather large battery, and the capacitor seems to be getting a bit warmer than I expected it too. Is this normal? It has been plugged into the wall for several hours, I have never had it plugged in this long before so I am trying to figure out if there is an issue or not.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88096
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Is it normal for a capacitor to get warm/hot
It should not be heating significantly in normal use. Make sure you have the polarity correct. Reversed polarity will cause it to overheat and even explode(!).
Also, what kind of power supply are you using? Significant ripple currents from your power supply can cause heating too.
Also, what kind of power supply are you using? Significant ripple currents from your power supply can cause heating too.
- scottp3
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:25 pm
Re: Is it normal for a capacitor to get warm/hot
I'm using a 5v 2000 amp wall wart. I know that I have the polarity right because I have used the board for several months, the only difference now is the fact I have it going in a box. I think that I just need to insulate the back of the board with duct tape or something. I thing that some wiring or something was causing an intermittent short. Thanks for the response. It did help a lot.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.