Adapter capacitor burns

What causes a ceramic capacitor to burn?

Electrical overvoltage, inadequate heat dissipation, and poor solder connections are other common causes of burning ceramic capacitors. Particularly ceramic capacitors that are soldered onto assemblies are susceptible to cracks.

How do you short a capacitor?

Higher voltage capacitors are also able to charge to higher voltages. If something is completely disconnected from its power source, you can short the terminals of the cap using something with an insulated handle, like a screwdriver. If you want to be very careful, you can use a resistor, a "bleeder" which the circuit should have had.

Do capacitors need a voltage rating?

The amount of energy stored in the capacitor goes up as the square of the voltage. A 100Ω resistor will lower the discharge current resulting in something less than a big bang. Welcome to the club. Capacitors need a voltage rating just like any other component.

Should I de-Rate my capacitor?

If it'd be possible (given the size constrains that you have), I'd de-rate your capacitor (use a higher voltage rating than required) and also put a smaller ceramic capacitor in parallel. These are more tolerant to short high-voltage spikes and will help reduce the stress on the electrolytic.

Is a 50V capacitor dangerous?

Capacitors need a voltage rating just like any other component. You can use a 50V cap in place of a 10V cap but it might not physically fit. And a 50V cap is going to be more expensive. I would say only dangerous if you have a heart condition. Though it is going to depend on the size of the cap.

How can a capacitor reduce stress?

A better way to relieve stress from these components, without any knowledge of the circuit itself would be to use a capacitor with a higher voltage rating. This will translate to a larger, more expensive component but it will stress less. Another way would be to get a "quality" capacitor, from a brand name supplier.