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What Are Coupling Capacitors?

By J.T. Barett, eHow Contributor

Capacitors store and release electric charges in electronic circuits. They function as timing elements, noise filters and energy reservoirs. Because a capacitor consists of a pair of metal foils separated by a thin insulator, it cannot pass direct current (DC); only alternating current (AC) passes a capacitor. Electronic designers use coupling capacitors to prevent DC from distorting sound signals in circuits designed for AC. Equipment such as an audio amplifier blocks DC with coupling capacitors.

Audio Signals
The electronic signals that carry sound vibrate in a frequency range of 20 to 20,000
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What Are Coupling Capacitors? | eHow.com

06/07/12 2:59 PM

hertz. A single vibration cycle starts at zero, increases to a maximum positive value, decreases through zero to a maximum negative value, then increases back to zero. Engineers call this alternating current because it alternates back and forth across the zero point. Electronic circuits can inadvertently mix DC into AC, shifting the cycle so that it no longer crosses zero. A coupling capacitor removes all the DC from a signal, leaving only the original sound signal.

Amplifiers
If an audio circuit receives a sound signal with DC, it causes distortion. It shifts the whole signal too far to the positive or negative, making the signal appear louder than it actually is. Audio amplifiers respond poorly to these mixed signals, producing a distorted sound. A well-designed amplifier may have coupling capacitors at several places in its circuit, to remove DC passed in an input signal or created inside the amplifier.

Capacitor Type
The material making up the insulator, called the dielectric, dictates the capacitor's characteristics. Capacitors with different dielectric materials tend to specialize in audio, radio or high-power applications. Polyester and polypropylene capacitors make good coupling capacitors, as these plastics are inexpensive and respond well to audio signals.

Capacitance Value
A coupling capacitor functions as a filter, removing signals below a certain frequency. The capacitor's value determines this frequency. Because you will still want to enjoy the low bass frequencies of your music, a good electronic designer can easily find a decent capacitor value that will block DC without removing the lower audible frequencies. In many instances, a one-microfarad capacitor serves this purpose.

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