My immediate need is to figure out what to use with my Max232, so I'll
start there. On the data sheet, the Max232 says it needs five 1uF
capacitors. Ok, that's easy enough. However, the caps are all drawn
as being polarized. Should I then presume that means I need to use
polarized caps, or is that just for the benefit of someone who woudl
use a polarized cap? It doesn't say in the data sheet, but I've seen
several example circuits with that chip, and most of them seem to use
tantalum or unspecified caps. Now, I *know* what a capacitor does,
but I'm not really sure when one would use a polarized (presumably
electrolytic) v/s a ceramic disk, dipped tantalum, polyester film,
etc. I figure that people up here might know. :)
So, for my immediate need: can I use the tantalum caps I have laying
around, or do I need to find polarized caps for the max232? I thought
that the polarized caps were just more efficient one way than another,
but otherwise were pretty much the same as any other cap (accuracy and
expense nonwithstanding), but like I said - I don't know for sure.
For my future reference - is there a good document somewhere I can
read, or does someone with some time to kill wanna help me understand
the difference and why one would choose one kind over another?
Thanks much.
--Danny
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