Another way of testing for polarity is by using a good analog VOM. On the
X10,000 scale you should get a much noticeable higher resistance if the
positive lead of the VOM is on the positive lead of the capacitor under test.
I found that for caps less than 33uf, positive to positive connection shows
greater than one megohm. Reversed, I get less than 20k ohm. You'll have to
wait a few seconds for the capacitor to charge in order to get a good reading.

DVM's seem not to work. Probably not enough voltage in the DVM.
Rick

Russell McMahon wrote:

> > Since the band denotes negative on aluminum electrolytics, surface mount
> or
> > leaded, and the band denotes negative on dipped tantalums, why would you
> > suspect that it would be positive on a surface mount tantalum?
>
> FWIW I have seen dipped tantalums where it is the positive lead.
>
>         RM

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