let's say you have a 100uF cap, it's rated for 35v, and you're giving it 12v, totally within spec. If You have that 12v running to that cap for.... forever, will it explode, or stop functioning after a while?
yes, it's an Electrolytic cap.It sounds like it might be an electrolytic capacitor. When the electrolyte dries out they tend to fail short.
If its just to turn it on and off a switch would be the simplest, cheapest, and will always work.
by Aaron Carman
by Aaron Carman
by Jake Hertz