Hello I'm am trying to complete some projects using the arduino and I was wondering if I am able to use electrolytic capacitors in place of ceramic capacitors? In the schematics there are cermaic capacitors and I only have electrolytic capacitors. If anyone could tell me if my projects will still work with my capacitors and what the difference is that would be great. Thanks in advance!!

 

Electrolytics have a high frequency limit. It depends on size and frequency. I can't guess those numbers from here.

 

Hello,

Most times ceramic capcitors are available in lower values as electrolitic capacitors.

Have a look at the cap site:
http://my.execpc.com/~endlr/index.html

This is a link from the capacitor page of the EDUCYPEDIA:
http://educypedia.karadimov.info/electronics/capacitors.htm

Bertus

 

Thank you both for your responses.

To be more specific the schematic calls for a 100 nF ceramic capacitor(two straight parallel lines). Before I noticed it was ceramic I went to radioshack and bought 100 nF electrolytic capacitors. Will these work?

 

Hello,

Have a look at this link from the EDUCYPEDIA page:
http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/Anniversary/21.html

There is also a sticky on this forum about decoupling capacitors:
Decoupling or Bypass Capacitors, Why?

Bertus

 

You have given one clue, it's 100 nf.
Is it a decoupling capacitor?
Is it on a fast switching chip like a 555 or a digital gate or a flip-flop?
Is it acting as an integrator?

 

Details, details, details.
You should not substitute a ceramic capacitor with an electrolytic capacitor without considering its function in the circuit.

Show us the schematic diagram and we can give you a better answer.