Electrolytic capacitor (ELCAP)

ELCAP is the abbreviation for electrolytic capacitor. This is a polarized capacitor whose anode is made of metal (aluminum, tantalum or niobium). An electrolyte, e.g. an electrically conductive liquid, serves as the cathode. The advantage of these capacitors is a relatively high capacitance density. A normal electrolytic capacitor can only be operated with DC voltage with correct polarity, incorrectly polarized components destroy themselves. The only exception are the bipolar electrolytic capacitors.