simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
I want to use this circuit for charging, discharging and creating negative voltages off capacitors for a special application.
I will then charge this capacitor series by its negative terminal.
This circuit looks very vell for ceramic capacitors but my question is if it would perform the same for electrolytic polarized capacitors? Since I will be charging the negative voltage capacitors again by the capacitor's negative terminal, I don't know if I should charge those polarized capacitors by the negative terminal.
Best Answer
The only rule for polarized capacitors, such as electrolytic, tantalum etc., is that a potential on a positive (\$+\$) terminal is higher than the potential on a negative (\$-\$) terminal. If you reverse polarity, the polarized capacitor will most probably blow. That said, the capacitor doesn't know what is "negative voltage". As long as \$V_+\$ is higher than \$V_-\$, you're okay.
As for non-polarized capacitors, such as ceramic, film etc., it doesn't matter how you connect them, as they're not polarized.