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Polarity - Learn - Sparkfun

Polarity refers to whether electronic components are symmetric or not. Polarized components can only be connected in one direction, while non-polarized components can be connected either way. It is important to identify the polarity of components like diodes, LEDs, integrated circuits, electrolytic capacitors, batteries, transistors, and voltage regulators to ensure they are connected properly. Common indicators of polarity include markings like lines, dots, or text on the component itself as well as asymmetric shapes. Connecting a polarized component in the wrong direction can cause it to not function properly or even be damaged.

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Frankie Schneider
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94 views7 pages

Polarity - Learn - Sparkfun

Polarity refers to whether electronic components are symmetric or not. Polarized components can only be connected in one direction, while non-polarized components can be connected either way. It is important to identify the polarity of components like diodes, LEDs, integrated circuits, electrolytic capacitors, batteries, transistors, and voltage regulators to ensure they are connected properly. Common indicators of polarity include markings like lines, dots, or text on the component itself as well as asymmetric shapes. Connecting a polarized component in the wrong direction can cause it to not function properly or even be damaged.

Uploaded by

Frankie Schneider
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3/18/2016

[Link]

Polarity
CONTRIBUTORS:
FAVORITE

JIMB0
9

WhatisPolarity?
Intherealmofelectronics,[Link]
polarizedcomponentapartwithoutpolaritycanbeconnectedinanydirectionandstillfunctionthe
[Link],andevery
[Link],
anditllfunctionjustthesame.
Apolarizedcomponentapartwithpolaritycanonlybeconnectedtoacircuitinonedirection.A
polarizedcomponentmighthavetwo,twenty,oreventwohundredpins,andeachonehasaunique
functionand/[Link],atbestitwont
[Link],anincorrectlyconnectedpolarizedcomponentwillsmoke,spark,andbeone
verydeadpart.

Anassortmentofpolarizedcomponents:batteries,integratedcircuits,transistors,voltageregulators,
electrolyticcapacitors,anddiodes,amongothers.
Polarityisaveryimportantconcept,[Link]
yourepluggingpartsintoabreadboard,solderingthemtoaPCB,orsewingthemintoanetextile
project,itscriticaltobeabletoidentifypolarizedcomponentsandtoconnecttheminthecorrect
[Link]!Inthistutorialwelldiscusswhichcomponentsdoanddonthave
polarity,howtoidentifycomponentpolarity,andhowtotestsomecomponentsforpolarity.

ConsiderReading
Ifyourheadsnotswimmingyet,[Link]
[Link]
haventalready,considercheckingoutsomeofthebelowtutorials,beforeyoureadthroughthisone.
[Link]

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[Link]

HowtoUseaMultimeter
WhatisaCircuit
Voltage,Current,Resistance,andOhmsLaw
HowtoUseaBreadboard

DiodeandLEDPolarity
Diodesonlyallowcurrenttoflowinonedirection,[Link]
[Link],andthenegativeoneiscalledthecathode.

Thediodecircuitsymbol,withtheanodeandcathodemarked.
Currentthroughadiodecanonlyflowfromtheanodetothecathode,whichwouldexplainwhyits
[Link],everydiodeshouldhavesome
[Link]
cathodepin,whichmatchestheverticallineinthediodecircuitsymbol.
[Link],a1N40001rectifier,hasagreyringnearthe
[Link],[Link]
couplesurfacemountdiodes,eachofwhichusealinetomarkwhichpinisthecathode.

LEDs
LEDstandsforlightemittingdiode,whichmeansthatmuchliketheirdiodecousins,theyrepolarized.
[Link]
thelongerleg,whichshouldindicatethepositive,anodepin.
Or,ifsomeonestrimmedthelegs,[Link]
theflatedgewillbethenegative,cathodepin.

[Link]

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[Link]

[Link]/cathodeidentifiers.
[Link]
setting(usuallyindicatedbyadiodesymbol),[Link]
LEDlightsup,thepositiveprobeistouchingtheanode,andthenegativeprobeistouchingthecathode.
Ifitdoesntlightup,tryswappingtheprobesaround.

Thepolarityofatiny,yellow,[Link]
theanodeandnegativetouchesthecathode,theLEDshouldlightup.

[Link]
[Link],beginning
withintegratedcircuits.

IntegratedCircuitPolarity
Integratedcircuits(ICs)mighthaveeightpinsoreightypins,andeachpinonanIChasaunique
[Link]
smoke,melt,andberuinedifconnectedincorrectly.
ThroughholeICsusuallycomeinadualinlinepackage(DIP)tworowsofpins,eachspacedby0.1"
[Link]
[Link],theICmighthaveanetcheddotinthecasingnearpin1.

[Link]

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[Link]

[Link],sometimesyouonlyget
oneortheother.
ForallICpackages,pinnumbersincreasesequentiallyasyoumovecounterclockwiseawayfrompin1.

SurfacemountICsmightcomeinQFN,SOIC,SSOP,[Link]
usuallyhaveadotnearpin1.

AnATmega32U4inaTQFPpackage,nexttothedatasheetpinout.

ElectrolyticCapacitors
Notallcapacitorsarepolarized,butwhentheyare,itsveryimportantnottomixtheirpolarityup.
Ceramiccapacitorsthesmall(1Fandless),[Link]
thoseineitherway.

[Link]

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[Link]

[Link].
Electrolyticcaps(theyvegotelectrolytes),whichlooklikelittletincans,[Link]
ofthecapisusuallyindicatedbyamarking,and/[Link]
havealongerpositiveleg.
Beloware10F(left)anda1mFelectrolyticcapacitors,eachofwhichhasadashsymboltomarkthe
negativeleg,aswellasalongerpositiveleg.

Applyinganegativevoltageforanextendedperiodtoanelectrolyticcapacitorresultsinabrieflyexciting,
butcatastrophic,[Link],[Link]
thenonthecapwillbeasgoodasdead,actinglikeashortcircuit.

OtherPolarizedComponents
BatteriesandPowerSupplies
Gettingpolarityrightinyourcircuitallstartsandendswithgettingthepowersupplyconnectedcorrectly.
WhetheryoureprojectsgettingpowerfromawallwartoraLiPobattery,itscriticaltomakesureyou
dontaccidentlyconnectthembackwardsandapply9Vor4.2Vtoyourprojectaccidently.
[Link]
positiveandnegativeterminalswitha+[Link]
ablackwirefornegative.

[Link]

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[Link]

[Link],coincell,9Valkaline,AAalkaline,[Link]
somewaytorepresentpositiveornegativeterminals.
Powersuppliesusuallyhaveastandardizedconnector,[Link]
jack,forexample,hastwoconductors:outerandinnertheinner/centerconductorisusuallythepositive
[Link],likeaJST,arekeyedsoyoujustcantconnectthembackwards.

Forextraprotectionagainstreversingpowersupplypolarity,youcanaddreversepolarityprotection
usingadiode,oraMOSFET.

Transistors,MOSFETs,andVoltageRegulators
These(traditionally)threeterminal,polarizedcomponentsarelumpedtogetherbecausetheyshare
[Link],MOSFETs,andvoltageregulatorscommonlycomeina
TO92orTO220package,[Link],lookfortheflatedgeontheTO92
packageorthemetalheatsinkontheTO220,andmatchthatuptothepinoutinthedatasheet.

Above,a2N3904transistorinaTO92package,notethecurvedandstraightedges.A3.3Vregulatorin
aTO220package,notethemetalheatsinkontheback.

Etc.
[Link],likeresistors,
[Link]
onesuchexample.

Apolarizedresistorpack.Anarrayoffive330resistors,[Link]
representsthefirst,commonpin.
[Link]

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[Link]

Fortunately,[Link]
toalwaysreadthedatasheets,andcheckthecasefordotsorothermarkers.

ResourcesandGoingFurther
Nowthatyouknowwhatpolarityis,andhowtoidentifyit,whynotcheckoutsomeoftheserelated
tutorials:
[Link]
thisisagreatwaytomakesureyoudontapplypowerorsomeothersignalbackwards.
[Link]
diodeswork,andwhattypesofdiodesareoutthere.
LilyPadDesignKitExperiment1Circuitsdontjustexistonbreadboardsandcircuitboards,you
cansewthemintoshirtsandothertextilestoo!CheckouttheLilyPadDesignKittutorialstosee
[Link].

[Link]

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