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Capacitors Tutorial

Capacitors Basics

The capacitor's work is to store electricity, or electrical energy, it works similar to battery. The capacitor is also used as a filter, allowing alternating current (AC), and disallowing direct current (DC). A capacitor is also an electronic component that stores energy in the form of an electrostatic field. Capacitor consists of two conducting plates Between these plates there is an insulating material called the dielectric. .When we apply to capacitor DC voltage an electric charge is stored in plates. The value of a capacitor is designated in units called the Farad ( F ).
The capacitance of a capacitor is very small, hence it is designated in microfarad ( 10^-6F ), nanofarad ( 10^-9F ), and picofarad (10^-12F ) units. It store energy in the electric field between a pair of conductors called "plates"

capacitor

How to Calculate Total Value of Capacitors?

To compute the total value of capacitors in parallel that are connected across each other we will add their values and in order to find the total value if they are in series that is in line with each other then use the following formula 1/C total =1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 .

Capacitors are also referred to as condensers.

Note:DC current cannot flow through a capacitor because the dielectric forms an open circuit

The capacitor's capacitance (C) is a measure of the amount of charge (Q) stored on each plate for a given potential difference or voltage (V) which appears between the plates:

C=Q/V

The capacitance is directly proportional to the surface areas of the plates, and is inversely proportional to the separation between the plates. Capacitance also depends on the dielectric constant of the substance between the electrode plates.

Capacitor Types and usage

Capacitors can be used to control timing, filtering out power supplies. Four major types of capacitors are ceramic, electrolytic, and tantalum

ceramic

1) Ceramic capacitors are small in size and value, ranges from Pico Farads to 1 µF. Not polarized, so either end can go to ground. Value is given by a code like we in resistors.

2) Electrolytic capacitors look like small cylinders and range in value from 1 µF to several Farads. Its value is changed as the electrolytic ages. Polarized, cathode must go to ground. Cathode is assigned with a minus sign on case. Value is usually written on case.

tantalum

3) Tantalum capacitors are similar in size to ceramic but can hold more charge, up to several hundred µF. Stable and correct, but comparatively expensive. Usually Polarized, anode is assigned with a plus sign.

variable

4)Variable Capacitors are also called Tuning Capacitors. They have very small capacitance values, between 100pF and 500pF (100pF = 0.0001µF).

Units of Capacitance

Microfarad (μF) 1μF = 1/1,000,000 = 0.000001 = 10-6 F

Nanofarad (nF) 1nF = 1/1,000,000,000 = 0.000000001 = 10-9 F

Picofarad (pF) 1pF = 1/1,000,000,000,000 = 0.000000000001 = 10-12 F

Capacitors Color Codes

Colour	Digit A	Digit B	Multiplier D	Tolerance T > 10pf	Tolerance T < 10pf	Temperature Coefficient TC	Working voltage V
Black	0	0	x1	± 20%	± 2.0pF
Brown	1	1	x10	± 1%	± 0.1pF	-33x10^-6
Red	2	2	x100	± 2%	± 0.25pF	-75x10^-6	250v
Orange	3	3	x1000	± 3%		-150x10^-6
Yellow	4	4	x10k	+100%,-0%		-220x10^-6	400v
Green	5	5	x100k	± 5%	± 0.5pF	-330x10^-6	100v
Blue	6	6	x1m			-470x10^-6	630v
Violet	7	7				-750x10^-6
Grey	8	8	x0.01	+80%,-20%
White	9	9	x0.1	± 10%

Capacitors Letters Codes

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