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Decoding Value of Capacitor

This document provides guidance on decoding capacitor values. It explains that capacitance is measured in Farads but circuit values use smaller units like microfarads and picofarads. Two-digit codes indicate picofarads while three-digit codes use the first two digits as a base value and the third digit as a multiplier. Larger capacitors may directly print the value. A letter code indicates the tolerance or accuracy of the capacitor value. The document includes an example table decoding 10 capacitor codes into their equivalent values.

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bess.sangabriel17
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11 views

Decoding Value of Capacitor

This document provides guidance on decoding capacitor values. It explains that capacitance is measured in Farads but circuit values use smaller units like microfarads and picofarads. Two-digit codes indicate picofarads while three-digit codes use the first two digits as a base value and the third digit as a multiplier. Larger capacitors may directly print the value. A letter code indicates the tolerance or accuracy of the capacitor value. The document includes an example table decoding 10 capacitor codes into their equivalent values.

Uploaded by

bess.sangabriel17
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) – Cavite Chapter

Hands – on Basic Electronics Training

Activity 7
Decoding Value of Capacitors

NAME: San Gabriel, Bess S. DATE: April 18 2023

GROUP NO.:1 INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Jomer Catipon

I. Introduction

Some pointers in reading capacitor values is as follows:

Understand the units of measurement used for capacitors. The base unit of capacitance is
the Farad (F). This value is too large to be of use in a circuit. Smaller denominations of capacitance are
used by electronic circuits.
 Read uF as microFarad. 1 microFarad is 1 times 10 to the -6 power Farad.
 Read pF as picoFarad. 1 picoFarad is 1 times 10 to the -12 power Farad.

Read the value directly on larger bodied capacitors. If the surface of the body is large enough, the
value will be printed directly on the capacitor. For example, 47 uF indicates 47 microFarads.

Read the capacitance of smaller bodied capacitors as two or three numbers. The
designators uF or pF will not appear due to the small size of the capacitor body.
 Read two digit numbers as being in picoFarads (pF). For example, 47 would be read as 47 pF
 Read three digit numbers as a base capacitance value in picoFarads and a multiplier. The first two
digits will indicate the base capacitor value in picoFarads. The third digit will indicate a multiplier to be
used on the base number to find the actual value of the capacitor.
 Use a third digit of 0 through 5 to place the corresponding number of 0s behind the base value.
 A third digit of 8 means multiply the base value by .01. A third digit of 9 means to multiply the base
value by 0.1. For example, 472 would indicate a 4700 pF capacitor and 479 would indicate a 4.7 pF
capacitor.
 Digit-Character-Digit. Some small capacitors are marked with codes like 1n0. The digits are the values
before and after the decimal point and the character tells you the dimension; so the example given is
1.0 nF (nano-Farad).

Look for a letter code. Some capacitors are defined by a three number code followed by a
letter. This letter represents the tolerance of the capacitor, meaning how close the actual value of the
capacitor can be expected to be to the indicated value of the capacitor. The tolerances are indicated
as follows.
 Read B as 0.10 percent.
 Read C as 0.25 percent.
 Read D as 0.5 percent.
 Read E as 0.5 percent. This is a duplication of a D code.
 Read F as 1 percent.
 Read G as 2 percent.
 Read H as 3 percent.
 Read J as 5 percent.
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 Read K as 10 percent.
 Read M as 20 percent.
 Read N as 0.05 percent.
 Read P as plus 100 percent to minus 0 percent.
 Read Z as plus 80 percent to minus 20 percent.

II. Objective:
To decode the value of capacitors

III. Materials needed:


10 pcs capacitors, assorted

IV. Procedure:
1. Label the capacitors as C1, C2, C3, … C10
2. Complete table 9.1 by supplying the code printed on the capacitor’s body and its equivalent
decoded value.

Table 10.1
Decoding Capacitor Values

Code Decoded Value


C1 580K 58PF +/-10%
C2 822J 8200PF +/-5%
C3 474J 470000PF +/-5%
C4 22uF 35V 22000000PF or V226
C5 22uF 16V 22000000PF or C226
C6 3.3uF 12V 3300000PF or 335
C7 220uF 16V 220000000PF or C227
C8 330uF 16V 330000000PF or C337
C9 1000uF 16V 1000000000PF or C108
C10 2200uF 16V 2200000000PF or C228

V. Conclusion:
 in the field of electronics being able to decode the value of capacitors allows for the
right selection and implementation of capacitors in various circuits.

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