IDENTIFYING/TESTING CAPACITTOR

At the end of this module, you should be able to;

 Draw the symbols of different types of capacitor.

 Describe capacitor operation and construction.
 Enumerate the different types of capacitor.
 Determine the total capacitance in series & parallel circuits.
 Test capacitor condition using multimeter.

THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES

Capacitance is the ability of the capacitor to store electrical charges/energy in an electrostatic

field. A capacitor is an electronic device or component that possesses a specific amount of
capacitance, used to store electrical charges or voltages. A capacitor is made of two conductors
separated by an insulator. The conductors are called plates and the insulator is called a dielectric.
When a voltage source is connected to a capacitor, a current flow until the capacitor is charged.
The capacitor is charged with an excess of electrons on one plate (negative charge) and a
deficiency of electrons on the other plate (positive charge).

The dielectric materials are insulator that prevents electrons from moving between the plates.
Once the capacitor is charged, all current will stop. The capacitor’s voltage is equal to the voltage
of the voltage source. A charged capacitor can be removed from the voltage source and used as an
energy source. However, as energy is removed from the capacitor, the voltage diminishes rapidly.
In a DC circuit, a capacitor acts as an open circuit after its initial charge. An open circuit is a circuit
with an infinite resistance.

Caution: Because a capacitor can be removed from a voltage source and hold the potential of the
voltage source indefinitely, treat all capacitors as though they were charged. Never touch both
leads of a capacitor with your hand until you have discharged it by shorting both leads together. A
capacitor in a circuit can hold a potential indefinitely if it does not have a discharge path.

SYMBOL

A: Non-polarized Capacitor
B: Polarized Capacitor +
C: Variable Capacitor
D. Trimmer Capacitor -

A B C D

BASIC CONSTRUCTION OF CAPACITOR

1-Metal plates
1 1
2-Terminal Leads
2 2
3-Insulator/ Dielectric

3
Two basic ratings of capacitor
1. Capacitance- (Farad) It is the ability of the capacitor to store charge.
2. Voltage – (Volts) It specifies how large or how much voltage a particular capacitor can hold or
store, without destroying its dielectric material between its plate.
 COMMON TYPES OF CAPACITOR

Classification according to the types of materials used as insulator/dielectric to separate the

plates of the capacitor
1. Electrolytic capacitor – is a polarized capacitor consists of two metal foils separated by
fine gauze or other absorbent material that is saturated with a chemical paste called an
electrolyte.
2. Mylar capacitor
3. Ceramic Capacitor
4. Mica Capacitor
5. Polyester capacitor
6. Air capacitor
7. Paper capacitor
8. Tantalum capacitor

Classification according to their construction

1. Fixed capacitor – this type of capacitor has fixed capacitance value. Meaning its
capacitance value cannot be changed manually.
2. Variable or adjustable capacitor – This type of capacitor is constructed that its
capacitance or capacity can be adjusted manually.
Ex. Air capacitor and trimmer capacitor

Defects or troubles of capacitor

1. Shorted capacitor – When the capacitor is shorted, the insulator or dielectric material
Separating the two metal plates is punctured or damaged and this causes the two
metal plates touching to each other or shorted. In this condition, the capacitor can no
longer store electrical charges and is therefore useless.
2. Open capacitor – when the capacitor is open, either of the two terminals connected to
the metal plates of the capacitor is broken or disconnected. The capacitor can no
longer store charge and therefore useless.
3. Leaky capacitor – it means that its dielectric material or insulator separating the two
metal plates is partially punctured or destroyed. In this condition, the charge on one
plate of the capacitor leaks to the other plate. A leaky capacitors can no longer store
electrical charges to its full capacity.
4. Shelf life – it means that the capacitor already reach its useful life span. This type of
trouble may occur only in an electrolytic type capacitor.

Four factors affecting the capacitance of capacitor

1. Area of the plate – Capacitance of the capacitor is directly proportional to the area of
of the plate. The wider the plates the more the capacitance.
2. Distance between the plates – Capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance
between two plates.
3. Type of dielectric material - it is indicated by the dielectric constant. Dielectric constant
is a measure of the effectiveness of a material as an insulator.
4. Temperature- the temperature of the capacitor is the least significant of the four factors.
It need not be considered for most general purpose applications.

Common functions of capacitor in a circuit

1. Filter capacitor 4. Decoupling capacitor
2. Coupling capacitor 5. Feedback capacitor
3. Bypass capacitor

Finding total capacitance Ct of capacitor

1. Capacitor in series – connecting capacitances in series is equivalent to increasing the thickness
of the dielectric. Therefore the combined capacitances is less than the
smallest individual value.
Formula: 1
1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 + 1/C4 + …
Example- Capacitor in Series Connection

Given:
C1= 10 μf
Ct=? C1 C2 C3 C2= 100 μf
C3= 50 μf

1
Ct= 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3
1
= 1/10 + 1/100 + 1/50

Ct= 7. 69 μf

2. Capacitor in parallel – Connecting capacitances in parallel is equivalent to adding plate areas.

Therefore the total capacitance Ct is the sum to the individual
capacitances.
Formula:
Ct = C1 + C2 + C3 + …

Example- Capacitor in Parallel Connection

C1 C2 C3 Given:
C1= 5 μf
Ct=? C2= 220 μf
C3= 1000 μf

Ct= C1 + C2 + C3
= 5 + 220 + 1000
Ct= 1,225 μf

Checking capacitor

There are two methods of checking capacitors. They are:

1. Resistance measurement (ohmmeter)
2. Capacitance measurement (capacitor checker)

When checking capacitor, (1) set the range switch of the ohmmeter to high range such as 1k, 10k
up if checking capacitor with small capacitances. Low ranges for capacitor with a big capacitance
value. (2) Be sure to discharge the capacitor by shorting the leads before testing them, and (3)
place the test probes across the terminal leads of the capacitors. If the capacitor is normal, the
needle pointer deflects and then slowly goes back to infinite resistance. Do not touch the metal
part of the test probes and the bare leads of the capacitor. Failure to deflect the needle indicates
an open capacitor. Failure of the needle pointer to drop down indicates shorted capacitor. Leaky
when the deflection of the needle pointer is abnormal. See figure
READING CAPACITOR VALUE
The basic unit to measure capacitance is Farad. However, the Farad unit is too large to be used for
different electronics /electrical circuits, so smaller units were developed.

Common values of capacitor available in the market

1. millifarad – symbol mf
2. microfarad – symbol uf
3. nanofarad – symbol nf
4. picofarad – symbol pf

Conversion of Units
1. 1 mf = 1 x 10-3 or 0.001 Farad
2. 1 uf = 1 x 10-6 or 0.000001 Farad
3. 1 nf = 1 x 10-9 or 0.000000001 Farad
4. 1 pf = 1 x 10-12 or 0.000000000001 Farad

Answer the following questions.

1. Describe briefly the construction capacitor?

2. What is the difference between a fixed capacitor and the variable capacitor?
3. Why is it important to consider the correct polarity of an electrolytic capacitor when
It is use in the circuit?
4. On what factor does the capacitance of the capacitor defend?
5. What is the indication if the capacitor is in good or bad condition?

Convert the following to Farad unit

1.) 200 pf
2.) .001 uf
3.) 2,500 pf

Convert the following to picofarad unit

1.) 0.0015 uf
2.) 0.3 uf
3.) 0.016 uf

Convert the following to microfarad unit.

1.) 220 pf
2.) 1,800 pf
3. 18,000 pf

Reference:
Electronics Enthusiasts Projects and Circuits
Vol.1
Basic Transistorized Amplifier
Juanito S. Faina