Capacitor markings are used for identifying their values and proper usage in electronic circuits. Here's a detailed breakdown of the key aspects to consider: On smaller capacitors, you often find only the capacitance value. For larger capacitors, two main parameters are displayed: capacitance and breakdown voltage.
The main parameters of capacitor: Rated capacity – the value provided by the manufacturer, it determines the capacity of this element, Capacitance tolerance – it’s given in percentage [%], the maximum deviation of the actual value of the item from its nominal value,
The nominal value of the Capacitance, C of a capacitor is the most important of all capacitor characteristics. This value measured in pico-Farads (pF), nano-Farads (nF) or micro-Farads (μF) and is marked onto the body of the capacitor as numbers, letters or coloured bands.
The capacitance of a capacitor can change value with the circuit frequency (Hz) y with the ambient temperature. Smaller ceramic capacitors can have a nominal value as low as one pico-Farad, ( 1pF ) while larger electrolytic’s can have a nominal capacitance value of up to one Farad, ( 1F ).
Reading capacitor markings involves identifying several key attributes. The capacitance value often marked directly in microfarads (μF), nanofarads (nF), or picofarads (pF). The voltage rating indicates the maximum voltage the capacitor can handle, marked as a number followed by "V".
This list is based on IEC and IEEE standards and contains pictograms and descriptions for the following capacitors: polarized, adjustable or variable, differential, shielded, split-stator, etc. See also: relay symbols ►