To read the value of a capacitor, the user must consult the markings printed on its body. These markings indicate the capacitance of the capacitor in farads (F) as well as its nominal voltage. Capacitors generally use a capacitance color code similar to the color code of resistors, but sometimes the code is 3 numbers and 1 letter.
While most modern capacitors use numerical markings, older models often display color codes. These codes indicate values like capacitance and breakdown voltage through a series of colored bands. Figure 2: Standard Capacitor Color Code Each color band on a capacitor represents a specific number or multiplier.
Every capacitor has a special marking printed on its body. It represents the value or colour code of capacitor. There are different types of capacitor and each has its specified capacitance value, voltage rating, temperature range, tolerance and life time. But most of the capacitors have their value and their voltage printed on their body.
Using this international colour coding system the user can determine the value of capacitance of the capacitor including the tolerances. In this colour coding system the colour bands are used to determine the capacitance value. Table bellow shows the colour bands to determine the value of the capacitor.
These coloured bands represent the capacitance value as per the colour code including voltage rating and tolerance. Sometimes the actual values of capacitance, voltage or tolerance are marked onto the body of a capacitor in the form of alphanumeric characters.
For identifying the capacitor values and tolerances international colour coding scheme (electronic colour coding) was introduced. Every capacitor has colors or alphanumeric characters on the body which indicates the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor. The capacitance can range from 1pico factor to 1 farad.