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How do you determine capacitor's condition using multimeter for small capacitance?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
You can use a multimeter to check the condition of a capacitor by using its highest range for measuring resistance. That range applies the highest voltage - often 9 volts - to the capacitor.
If the capacitor is of a polarized type - such as electrolytic - you must be sure to apply the multimeter's test leads to it the correct way round so as to apply the voltage in the right direction so that the capacitor can charge-up.
If the capacitor is shorted internally the multimeter will always show a low resistance.
If the capacitor is not shorted internally and is in good condition you will see a low resistance at first but, as it charges-up from the applied voltage, you should see the resistance rise in a steady manner until it registers near to infinity.
If the capacitor is failing the resistance will stay fairly low because the charge will not be held. If the capacitor is in good condition the charge should be held for several hours and the capacitor can be discharged (by shorting its wires) and then recharged repeatedly.
Warning Never ever try to test a capacitor whilst it is still connected into a circuit because: * it must always be discharged safely before you try to test it because you could receive a bad electrical shock if the capacitor is still holding a charge from being in-circuit. Wear rubber gloves on both hands and short its leads away from your eyes because, if it was holding a high voltage charge, there may be a big spark!
* other circuit components may get damaged, especially if they are semiconductors;
* other circuit components may prevent the capacitor from being charged-up.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThis is nearly impossible unless the digital multimeter has either:
- a built in capacitance meter function
- an analog bargraph
It was actually much easier to do on the old style cheap analog multimeters with a needle using the ohms scale than it is on modern digital multimeters.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIn general, you can't. You can only determine if the capacitor is shorted (or leaky) or not.
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How can you determine a busted capacitor?
There have been a few errors in recent years with capacitors that go bust from normal use. These are most often leaking electrolytic fluid from a crack at the top or the bottom. This fluid is most often drying up and leaves a dark brownish crystalline compound on and around capacitor. Some other capacitors are just bulging upwards on top and give no signs apart from this. A healthy capacitor has got no visual deformities. If in doubt about a certain capacitor then de-solder it and test it in a multimeter that can measure its capacitance.
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How can you determine a busted capacitor?
There have been a few errors in recent years with capacitors that go bust from normal use. These are most often leaking electrolytic fluid from a crack at the top or the bottom. This fluid is most often drying up and leaves a dark brownish crystalline compound on and around capacitor. Some other capacitors are just bulging upwards on top and give no signs apart from this. A healthy capacitor has got no visual deformities. If in doubt about a certain capacitor then de-solder it and test it in a multimeter that can measure its capacitance.
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Power-factor capacitors are rated in reactive volt amperes. To determine the appropriate rating, it is necessary to determine the existing (inductive) reactive power of the load, then determine the amount of (capacitive) reactive power necessary to achieve the desired power factor (it's rarely economical to try and achieve unity power factor), and this will be the necessary reactive power of the capacitor bank.The capacitance of power-factor correction capacitors is not really relevant to the calculation, which is why they are rated in reactive volt amperes, rather than in farads.
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