Ceramic Capacitor Marking Reader

Npo type capacitors are frequently used for precision timing filtering frequency setting and tuning circuits.

Ceramic capacitor marking reader.

Physically small capacitors are especially difficult to read due to the limited space available for printing. The value of the capacitor is indicated in picofarads. Values with the letter capital k represents 10 tolerance. Often the value may be given in picofarads.

Unlike resistors capacitors use a wide variety of codes to describe their characteristics. Some capacitors are only marked as 0 1 or 0 01 mostly in these cases the values are given in uf. For beginners some values might prove confusing. To get this value you multiply the leading digits 68 in this case by 10 raised to the power of the last digit 3 and the result is the capacitance in picofarads in this case we get 68x10 3 pf.

Some small capacitance capacitors can be marked with an r between numbers. 222k is a 2 2 nf capacitor with a 10 tolerance. American technical ceramics corp. If code is 3r9 then r is an indicator of values less than 10pf and has nothing to do with resistance.

Has a very low dissipation factor and are very stable over wide variations in temperature frequency voltage and time. 7 is not. Like resistors has some coding which needs to decipher printed digits on ceramic capacitors also needs deciphering. Sometimes figures such as 10n will be seen and this indicates a 10nf capacitor.

A variety of schemes may be used. Markings of ceramic capacitor. My article on ceramic disc capacitor values might help with the tolerance letters. There are three exceptions for the last digit.

Thus for such concise markings many different types of schemes or solutions are adopted. 3r9 would be 3 9pf. The markings on a ceramic capacitor are more concise in nature since it is smaller in size as compared to electrolytic capacitors. Ceramic capacitors are generally smaller than types like electrolytic capacitors and therefore the markings need to be more concise.

Here is how to read ceramic capacitor values. 823k is 82 nf 10 tolerance. Example 103k is a 10 nf capacitor with a 10 tolerance. The above image shows a mylar film capacitor.

I have always been unaware of the markings on a disc ceramic capacitor such as j m and other symbols. 682k is 6 8 nf 10 tolerance.