Electronic – Do capacitors conduct electricity while charging

capacitortimer

I was reading a schematic for a timer circuit, and it made use of a capacitor and a transistor. The description below the schematic explained that the current through the base of the transistor was not enough to switch it on until the capacitor was charged. I am quite confused as to the behavior of capacitors during charging. I have read countless descriptions of the device, and I understand that it stores energy in the electromagnetic field surrounding its component plates. I still do not understand their behavior, though. I have come up with two hypothesis as to why the timer circuit is designed like this:

  1. The capacitor conducts electricity only while charging. While it is charging, the current is directed through the capacitor, ignoring the transistor and going back into the voltage source. After it has charged, the current no longer flows through the capacitor and flows through the transistor instead.

  2. The capacitor conducts electricity only while charged. While it is charging, the circuit is open and electricity flows through neither the capacitor nor the transistor, all of it ending up in the electromagnetic field of the capacitor until it is charged, when the capacitor is able to conduct electricity. Then, the current flows through both the capacitor and the transistor.

Of these two hypothesis based on what I have read, I am leaning towards #1. I would like to know if a capacitor conducts electricity while charging, and if one or neither of these are right, and which one if so. Thank you in advance – I just learned how a transistor works, and now I am struggling with capacitors. 🙂

Additional information: this question is asked with the perspective of someone who only works with direct current.

Here is a link to the diagram (I had to dig through my browser history): http://www.instructables.com/community/Timer-Circuit/

Best Answer

For DC. It is not correct to say that the capacitor conducts current. Current is the movement of charge. Charge moves through the resistor and is stored in the capacitor like a reservoir, as it fills up the pressure (Voltage) increases. When the capacitor voltage reaches the base turn on level the current flows into the transistor turning it on.

In practice a current does move on the opposite side of the cap. This is to balance the charge that is building on the positive plate of the capacitor. It gives the appearance that the capacitor is "conducting" but the current does not flow through the capacitor because the dielectric between the plates is an insulator.