What are the manifestations of damaged electrolytic capacitors?

Electrolytic capacitors are widely used electronic components, and their performance stability is crucial for the normal operation of circuits. However, damage to electrolytic capacitors may occur during use, which can affect the overall performance of the circuit. So, how to determine if electrolytic capacitors are damaged?

1. The capacitance value decreases

After the electrolytic capacitor is damaged, the capacitance value may significantly decrease, resulting in the inability to store and release normal amounts of charge. This change directly affects the filtering, energy storage, and other functions in the circuit, leading to abnormal circuit operation.

2. Leakage current increases

When the electrolyte inside the electrolytic capacitor leaks or ages, the leakage current significantly increases, which not only increases circuit losses but may also cause faults such as short circuits, posing a threat to the safety of the circuit.

3. Expansion or explosion of the shell

In extremely short cases, if the electrolytic capacitor is damaged, the outer shell may expand or burst, which may be caused by electrolyte leakage or abnormal increase in internal pressure. This is a serious safety fault and must be dealt with scientifically.

4. Blackening of capacitor plates

When an electrolytic capacitor is damaged, the internal plates may turn black due to electrolyte leakage causing electrolyte decomposition. This phenomenon is not common, but it means that the capacitor has been severely damaged.

5. Circuit abnormalities caused by failure

Electrolytic capacitors are often used as key components such as filters and energy storage in circuits. When they are damaged, they may cause the circuit to malfunction, such as unstable voltage at the power output terminal and signal distortion. These abnormal phenomena are important evidence for determining whether electrolytic capacitors are damaged.

6. Changes in charging and discharging time

In delay circuits that require electrolytic capacitors for charging and discharging, if the capacitor is damaged and causes a change in capacity, it will directly affect the delay time, which may lead to circuit logic errors or functional failures.

7. Other

In addition, damage to electrolytic capacitors may also manifest as appearance deformation, leakage, heating, etc. Although these phenomena are not as obvious as the previous ones, they can serve as important clues to determine whether the capacitor is damaged in specific situations.