Date:         29 Jan 1997 12:43:29 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Harvey Chao" <Harvey_Chao@smtp.svl.trw.com>
Subject:      Re: Re- corrections on capa

                                         Subject:
                                         RE>>Re: corrections on capacitor
fixI
                                         Time: 12:33 PM      Date:
1/29/97

Ken Lewis wrote:  "The polarity should not matter with a tantalum capacitor.
By definition they are un-polarized. Only with regular electrolytic
capacitors do you
have to watch  the + and -."

Except for special non-polorized electrolytics used in audio applications,
or perhaps for very low value (under 1 microfarad) I believe that  ALL
tantalum capacitors ARE polarized, and that it is necessary to pay attention
to polarity upon installation.  Remember that polarity is relative -- i.e.
the "+" terminal goes to a wire whose voltage is higher than the wire that
the "-" terminal goes to, it doesn't necessarily have to be ground, just
lower than the "+"  wire (IN TERMS OF POLARITY, NOT WHETHER OR NOT YOU, FOR
WHATEVER REASON, HAVE SELECTED THE RIGHT TWO TERMINALS THAT YOU WANT TO HOOK
UP TO !!!) 

HARVEY

  RAARRRGGHHHH!S