How to Decode Ceramic Capacitor Numeric Value

 

Hello friends, ceramic capacitor are widely used in electronic circuit. But when it comes to know the value of the capacitor it becomes difficult sometimes, since on ceramic capacitor value is not written directly. There is a code on the capacitor and you have to decode that code to know the value.

                               

So how can you know the value of ceramic capacitor? Before moving ahead get to know some units used in capacitor values.

Unit of capacitor is Farad. But lower value of capacitors are used in circuits.

First is Pico Farad, 1 pico is equal to 10^-12

Second is Nano Farad, 1 nano is equal to 10^-9

Third is Micro Farad, 1 micro is equal to 10^-6

A ceramic capacitor, usually, have 3 digit code, for example we have a capacitor having code 105.

First 2 digits (1 & 0) are significant figures, and third one (5) is multiplier. Multiplier is considered with power of 10 as 10^5.

After putting all values we have the value in pF (picoFarad)

Pattern of to decode the value

First Figure   Second Figure  x 10^multiplier

Value is in pF

Let’s decode the code

Marking on capacitor ‘105’

Pattern to decode, 10 x 10⁵ = 1000000 pF

Now we have the value in pF, we can change it into nF by multiplying it by 10^-3. Since, It is in pF, which is equal to  10^-12 and we are changing it into nF which is equal to 10^-9, difference in these multiplier is of 3.

After multiplying it by 10^-3 We have value in nF

= 1000000 x 10^-3 nF =1000 nF

But if you want value in micro Farad (μF) then multiply it by 10^-6.

= 1000000 x 10^-6 μF =1 μF