Let’s try a simple example of how this works. Here’s a simple table of the multipliers you can use to do this calculation in your head: RELATED: What is a Capacitor? Ceramic Capacitor Multipliers If you find a larger number than six, it is not using the standard numbering scheme, or it may not even be a capacitor. This is where you need a good memory, or the calculator! The multiplier is always a number between zero and six. The first two digits are the capacitance value in pF and the third digit is simply a multiplier. The formula that the capacitor value calculator uses isn’t really all that difficult, and one that you could memorize and do in your head.
The Capacitor Code Calculator will convert a value into a code.The Capacitor Value Calculator will convert the three digit code into a capacitance value.You can either memerize the formula, or use a calculator to figure them out: Imagine if we had to shrink their complete specifications down and print them on the capacitor! We’d need a microscope to read them! This is why manufacturers started using a three-digit-code to mark ceramic capacitors. So this is how a capacitor value/code calculator calculates the ceramic capacitor value from the capacitor code, or vice versa.Ceramic capacitors are tiny! It’s difficult to read their values even with the code. The capacitance value will be calculated as follows: Similarly if the capacitor code is 152, the 3 rd digit is 2 so multiplier factor is 100. To understand how multiplier works, let’s take an example of a capacitor with code ‘104’.Īs first two digits are 10 and the 3 rd digit is 4, so multiplier factor is 10000, the total capacitance value in pF is as follows: If 3 rd digit is 6, it means multiplier factor of 1000000. If 3 rd digit is 5, it means multiplier factor of 100000. If 3 rd digit is 4, it means multiplier factor of 10000. If 3 rd digit is 3, it means multiplier factor of 1000.
If 3 rd digit is 2, it means multiplier factor of 100. If 3 rd digit is 1, it means multiplier factor of 10. If 3 rd digit is 0, it means multiplier factor of 1. For example if a ceramic capacitor has a code ‘5’ and other has ‘47’, their respective capacitance values are 5 pF and 47 pF.įor 3 digit’s capacitor code, the first two digits are the capacitance value in pF and the third digit is a multiplier factor of first two digits to calculate the final capacitance value of the capacitor. If the capacitor code consist only 1 or 2 digits, it is simply their capacitance value in PicoFarads (pF). For electrolytic capacitors, simply capacitance values are written on them.Ĭeramic capacitors encoding consists 1-3 digits. By using this capacitor value calculator, we can calculate the value of that capacitor, or vice versa. How Capacitor Value/Code Calculator Works?Īs ceramic capacitors have less surface area because of their tiny size, their value is not written in the capacitor, instead an encoded code is written on them. This Capacitor Code Calculator calculates the ceramic capacitor code upon providing the capacitance value of the capacitor in the input field below. This Capacitor Value Calculator calculates the capacitance value of a ceramic capacitor upon providing the capacitor code in the input field below.