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I never seen the question answered so forgive me if it has been, but capacitors store potential, also known as volts. Unlike a battery they don't store current too. They're usually used in circuits to resist a change in voltage by loading and unloading as there are spikes and dips in the voltage. Combine it with a coil of wire in the circuit which resists a change in current by building and collapsing a magnetic field and you have a great filter for electrical circuits. At least that's what I remember from my apprenticeship twenty years ago, LOL. I work with big ones on a regular basis and know for certain that a capacitor can be quite dangerous if it's not shorted out. That is how they ship so that there isn't a static charge. Capacitors (condensers) from a car or motorcycle distributor can be quite fun for people to shock other people as mentioned. Bigger ones can kill you and are not a toy so be careful!
Um the Farads is literally a measure of its storage capacity. The volts is a running voltage. Capacitors do absolutely hold capacity not just voltage. Thats why they use them to stiffen current draws in systems that try and draw too much amps for the basic system like car stereo's and bass notes. The system can't draw enough amps fast enough for the system so they add a capacitor to provide instant CURRENT (not volts) when needed then rapidly recharges when there isn't a deficit.
They can also be used in RLC (Resistor /inductor(coil)/capacitor) circuits such as radios and micro waves/radar systems. And provide a tremendous amount if voltage by basically making +voltages on one side of the time graph and -voltages on the other side. The net difference can easily be 1k volts and these circuits can be in stuff like pocket radios etc that have a very low battery voltage but they are obviously stepped up as you can see. There are several ways to do this.
Its best not to mess with electronics (even seemingly safe ones) unless you know what your doing.
And small capacitors can easily kill you as well doesn't need to be big at all. The voltage is the killer. Without looking IIRC it only takes what 35-45 Milli amps to stop your heart. But skin starts conducting around 45-60 depending on the moisture content and 120-200 volts will easily conduct through the skin.. So thats really not a lot at all a capacitor the size if your finger with the correct ratings will be enough to kill someone if they are unlucky enough to grab each terminal with each hand.
A short is a short.. If its shorted out it can't store energy right? It's a safety device so you know it's not charged when out of the system. Because they are so dangerous.
A capacitor is QUITE dangerous when being shorted out when still charged. You should drain it, check it, then apply the short to keep it drained so you KNOW its safe to handle.
A *short applied to the charged cap is literally how they do those shrunken quarters and those coils blow up like a grenade!
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