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What is polarity? An electrical condition determining the direction in which current tends to flow. Hence, negative (-), positive (+). What does "almost always" mean? There are always exceptions. You may find one marked differently, who knows!!
Capacitor Codes:
I guess you would really like to know how to read all those different codes. Not to worry, it is not as difficult as it appears. Some capacitors just tell you right out. Take your electrolytic and large body types of capacitors: these usually have the value printed on the body of the cap. For example,:100F 250V, or something like that would be imprinted right on the body. It would also have marks pointing to the negative
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end of the capacitor. For more information about this CLICK HERE. Start here for the smaller non-polarised and old type capacitors! It's mostly the smaller caps have two or three numbers printed on them, some with one or two letters added to that value. Take a look at the table below. As you can see it all looks very simple. If a capacitor is marked like this 105 , it just means 10+5zeros = 10 + 00000 = 1,000,000pF = 1000 nF = 1 F. And that's exactly the way you write it too. Value is always in pF (PicoFarads). The letters added to the value is the tolerance and in some cases a second letter is the temperature coefficient mostly only used in military applications, or industrial components. So, for example, it you have a ceramic capacitor with 474J printed on it: 47+4zeros = 470000 = 470,000pF, J=5% tolerance. (470,000pF = 470nF = 0.47F) The only major thing to remember here is to move the decimal point back six place for (uf) and three for (nf). Below in table A, is a simple version for direct conversions to make it easier for you. TABLE A
coded-decipher-value(pf)-value(nf)-value(uf)......coded-decipher-value(pf)-value(nf)-value(uf) 102 10+00 =1,000pf 1nf .001uf 333 33+000 33,000pf 33nf 0.033uf 334 33+0000 330,000pf 330nf 0.33uf 472 47+00 502 50+00 4,700pf 5,000 4.7nf 0.0047uf 47nf 0.047uf 5nf 0.005uf 473 47+000 47000pf
103 10+000 =10,000pf 10nf .01uf 104 10+0000 =100,000pf 100nf .1uf 222 22+00 =2,200pf 2.2nf .0022uf 220nf .22uf 3.3nf .0033uf 223 22+000 =22,000pf 22nf .022uf 224 22+0000 220,000pf 332 33+00 3300pf
503 50+000 50,000pf 50nf 0.05uf 504 50+0000 500,000pf 500nf 0.5uf
Other capacitors may just have 0.1 or 0.01 printed on them. If so, this represent s the value in F. Thus 0.1 means just 0.1 F. If you want this value in nanoFarads (nf) just move the decimal three places to the right which makes it 100nF capacitor. Some caps will have a value then a letter. For example .068K, in this case its a .068uf 10% capacitor. Again just take a look at FIG 2. The chart below is a simple conversion chart. It will help you understand how we convert uf to pf and nf.
Converting uf-nf-pf
microFarads (F) 0.000001F 0.00001F 0.0001F 0.001F 0.01F 0.1F nanoFarads (nF) = 0.001nF = 0.01nF = 0.1nF = 1nF = 10nF = 100nF picoFarads (pF) = 1pF = 10pF = 100pF = 1000pF = 10,000pF = 100,000pF
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1F 10F 100F
In the picture below you will see two of the most common types of mark ups. In the top picture the 1st digit can also be silver or black. This is done so you know the proper orientation before you decipher the value. In the lower picture the two N/A positions can be blank (no color added).
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the same. Other round plastic or bakelite capacitors may have the value printed right on the body. We have all seen these. There is no decoding them. Some have a white band on one end, and like these that defines the negative or outside foil connection.
Well that's it. I want to keep it simple and informative. I hope you found it to be both. Now you can use this guide to insure you install your caps correctly. Keep in mind this coves only some capacitors. Since I specialize in antique radios I stuck with the most common types.
The information contained within this website "www.wjoe.com" is derived from theoretical information based on experience and knowledge obtained over my lifetime. The reader "you", are ultimately responsible for any and all information used from this site. Any damage, or any consequences you experience from this information is solely your responsibility. This information is a free service, so please enjoy it! Any other use, retention, dissemination, editing, selling, or copying anything from this site, for any intent is strictly prohibited. Unless you obtain written permission by me at joe@wjoe.com. Any information on this web site is owned by myself and is intended to aid you in your research about Antique Radio. Please enjoy!!!!!! PLEASE feel free to email me with additional questions about this article. 09/15/11
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