Polarised capacitor symbol
Also called Electrolytic capacitor, Polarized capacitor
A capacitor that must be connected the right way round, such as an electrolytic or tantalum capacitor. The plus sign marks the positive plate.
What the polarised capacitor symbol means
A capacitor that must be connected the right way round, such as an electrolytic or tantalum capacitor. The plus sign marks the positive plate.
ANSI and IEC symbols
One straight and one curved plate. The curved plate is negative, and a plus sign marks the positive side.
ANSI SVGWhere you see it
Power supply smoothing and bulk storage where large capacitance is needed.
What is written next to it
On a schematic, the polarised capacitor usually carries its designator, capacitance and voltage, such as C3 470 µF 25 V.
Related symbols
Frequently asked questions
What does the polarised capacitor symbol look like?
On ANSI drawings: One straight and one curved plate. The curved plate is negative, and a plus sign marks the positive side. In IEC 60617: Two straight plates with a plus sign on the positive side. Some drawings show the negative plate as a filled or open rectangle.
Is the polarised capacitor symbol the same in IEC and ANSI?
No. Two straight plates with a plus sign on the positive side. Some drawings show the negative plate as a filled or open rectangle.
Where is a polarised capacitor used?
Power supply smoothing and bulk storage where large capacitance is needed.
- In production since 2014
- Thousands of daily users
- On MODEC FPSO projects since 2016