![[Help] Polarized capacitor in AC circuit](https://preview.redd.it/mo56w78twakh1.png?auto=webp&s=2ce021ea80b4e68fc9af4268aef4966d06dd0b55)
[Help] Polarized capacitor in AC circuit
Hello everyone,
I'm really struggling to understand how polarized capacitors work in AC circuits.
Here is an example taken from Practical Electronics for Inventors.
My understanding of the circuit:
- During the negative half-cycle (positive on the bottom wire), C1 is charged respecting its polarity.
- During the positive half-cycle (positive on the top wire), C1 acts like a battery in series with the generator, thereby doubling (more or less) the voltage.
- C2 is only there to smooth out the charge.
But what happens if the circuit starts with a positive half-cycle? The polarized capacitor will charge "backwards," right? Do we assume this isn't an issue because the load has a high resistance and will therefore draw little current (so low risk for C1)? But then what if the AC frequency is low and C1 has enough time to charge fully?
Thanks a lot!