What Happens If You Wire An Electrolytic Cap Backwards?

[Adji]

So what happens? Could it result in that circuit-bent screechy fuzzy type of sound?

[Skruffyhound]

It may explode disgorging nasty chemicals. This is the kind of thing R.G. likes to explain, hopefully he'll pop by and tell us exactly what happens in all the gory details. In any case I'm pretty sure it won't get you what you want and it can be mildly dangerous.

[Adji]

Ah okay, so it must be something else causing that circuit bent sounding weirdness then haha. I must have wired the cap the right way round as there have been no explosions, and no sign of leaking.

[Seljer]

informative and fun video on hooking up electrolytic capacitors in reverse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jDsNe_bmtE

[Adji]

Haha cheers for the video link man, good stuff haha.

Still now I am unsure though, what would make my circuit produce that screeching 'circuit bent' type of sound.

[anchovie]

what would make my circuit produce that screeching 'circuit bent' type of sound.

Umm...it's built wrong? Unless it's called the "Screechy Fuzz", in which case it's working perfectly.

Follow the steps in the "debugging" sticky thread (including naming this circuit of mystery!) and post back.

[Adji]

Haha, unfortunately it's name is not screechy fuzz. Sorry my bad, it is this circuit I posted, real simple. Btw, I have grounded the grounding strip of the vero to the jack, I am getting alot of buzzing so I am guessing I have grounded it wrongly?
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=80934.0

[Skruffyhound]

Actually a lot more dangerous than I was expecting, surprising there are not more accidents. Thanks for that.

[PRR]

If the rest of the circuit can supply LARGE power, the cap will burst.

Inside many audio circuits, there isn't a lot of power available. A backward electro may just screw-up operation so it don't work right, without any great excitement (boom).

[Skruffyhound]

How much is large. If I'm using a 12v 1A PSU, and the first thing on the circuit is an electro across +/- to reduce ripple, is that large or are we talking several Amps.

[Ibanezfoo]

I was working on a computerized telescope that had an electrolytic cap go bad.  I replaced the cap but wired the polarity backwards....  the motors worked for about 10 seconds and then the cap burst almost in my face.  Kind of like a mini firecracker.  It made my entire house smell like the worst dog poo you can imagine.  It took a week for that smell to go away.  It was very gross.  The circuit still worked fine when I put a new cap in the right way.  The inside of the motorized base still kind of smells though.