Ceramic Capacitor Marking Reader

Markings of ceramic capacitor.

Ceramic capacitor marking reader.

Values with the letter capital k represents 10 tolerance. Unlike resistors capacitors use a wide variety of codes to describe their characteristics. There are three exceptions for the last digit. The above image shows a mylar film capacitor.

Some small capacitance capacitors can be marked with an r between numbers. Npo type capacitors are frequently used for precision timing filtering frequency setting and tuning circuits. 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. Thus for such concise markings many different types of schemes or solutions are adopted.

Here is how to read ceramic capacitor values. Example 103k is a 10 nf capacitor with a 10 tolerance. A variety of schemes may be used. Often the value may be given in picofarads.

The value of the capacitor is indicated in picofarads. Some capacitors are only marked as 0 1 or 0 01 mostly in these cases the values are given in uf. Atc provides component and custom integrated packaging solutions for the rf microwave and telecommunications industries atc designs develops manufactures and markets multilayer capacitors single layer capacitors resistive products inductors and custom thin film products for rf microwave and millimeter wave applications. If code is 3r9 then r is an indicator of values less than 10pf and has nothing to do with resistance.

The top 683 marking indicates the capacitance value which is 68 000 picofarads pf. I have always been unaware of the markings on a disc ceramic capacitor such as j m and other symbols. Sometimes figures such as 10n will be seen and this indicates a 10nf capacitor. 3r9 would be 3 9pf.

For beginners some values might prove confusing. Reading values printed on electrolytic capacitors is easy digits on ceramic capacitors need to know some theory. 682k is 6 8 nf 10 tolerance. My article on ceramic disc capacitor values might help with the tolerance letters.

823k is 82 nf 10 tolerance. The markings on a ceramic capacitor are more concise in nature since it is smaller in size as compared to electrolytic capacitors. 222k is a 2 2 nf capacitor with a 10 tolerance. Has a very low dissipation factor and are very stable over wide variations in temperature frequency voltage and time.

7 is not. Ceramic capacitors are generally smaller than types like electrolytic capacitors and therefore the markings need to be more concise.