How to read ceramic capacitor

There are several variations of the capacitor symbol. So today, we’re just going to be focusing on how to read ceramic capacitors. The one on the left is for electrolytic capacitors. Ceramic capacitors don’t have a polarity. It is why the schematic symbol is slightly different than the electrical added capacitor. Now there are two charts we have to reference when we’re talking about a capacitor. 

MarkingCapacitance (pF)Capacitance (ìF)
101100 pF0.0001 ìF
221220 pF0.00022 ìF
471470 pF0.00047 ìF
1021,000 pF0.001 ìF
2222,200 pF0.0022 ìF
4724,700 pF0.0047 ìF
10310,000 pF0.01 ìF
22322,000 pF0.022 ìF
47347,000 pF0.047 ìF
104100,000 pF0.1 ìF
224220,000 pF0.22 ìF
474470,000 pF0.47 ìF
1051,000,000 pF1 ìF
2252,200,000 pF2.2 ìF
4754,700,000 pF4.7 ìF

Letter printed capacitor indicate tolerance

LetterTolerance
A±0.05 pF
B±0.1 pF
C±0.25 pF
D±0.5 pF
E±0.5%
F±1%
G±2%
H±3%
J±5 %
K±10%
L±15%
M±20%
N±30%
P–0%, + 100%
S–20%, + 50%
W–0%, + 200%
X–20%, + 40%
Z–20%, + 80%

What is a ceramic capacitor?

What is a ceramic capacitor

What is a ceramic capacitor? The ceramic capacitor looks like a disc shape, and it is minimal. The ceramic capacitor has two terminals. It is a non-polarized capacitor, which means there’s no difference between the positive and negative terminal. Look here inside the ceramic capacitor. The outer court protects the inner side of the capacitors. This one is the electrode, and the upper one is the dielectric ceramic disc. 

Therefore, called a ceramic capacitor. This ceramic disc stores the charges. It is the symbol of the ceramic capacitor. The small disc and the small dot represent the ceramic capacitor. The range of ceramic capacitors is from 0 to 0.01 microfarad to 1 fraud. 

Where to use a ceramic capacitor?

The ceramic capacitor is used in various places. Mainly it’s used for filtration. It’s used in a signal or frequency circuit to filter the signal to pure the signal. It’s also used on a DC to a pure DC. The ceramic capacitor is used to store energy. It is storing the DC but passing the AC. It is what the ceramic capacitor is.

How we read ceramic capacitor value

How we read ceramic capacitor value

The first one is an alphabetic code, which tells us the tolerance of the component. The second one is numeric code, which tells us the actual size of the capacitance of the capacitor. 

So we’re going to be looking at our example right now. And our example says 102 k. If we break down the code, the first significant digit is one, and the second significant digit is zero. So these are numbers in front of our multiplier. 

Calculate ceramic capacitor value

So now, when we take your multiplier, which is two, and when we look on the chart, that means two zeros. So we add two zeros to the end of the number. So it’s 1000, picofarad. Now, K represents our tolerance of the component, which in this case is plus or minus 10%. So that’s how we determine the size and the rating of the capacitor. 

Check here how to measure a capacitance of a capacitor by hooking it up to a multimeter. So in this example, I’m using a capacitor with a numerical value written on it of 103, which works out to be 10-nanofarads. 

Reading ceramic capacitor

Now when you look at the display of what is rated, its practical rating is it works it’s nine ferrites. So tolerances about 10%. Now, when you’re connecting it to your basic multimeter. Make sure you have an appropriate terminal in this one. As you can see in the bottom right-hand corner, I have the capacitance symbol. Then make sure you’re in the appropriate range of your multimeter. And then to make sure you select the appropriate setting.

Ceramic disk capacitor codes table

Picofarad pFNanofarad nFMicrofarad µFCode
100.010.00001100
150.0150.000015150
220.0220.000022220
330.0330.000033330
470.0470.000047470
1000.10.0001101
1200.120.00012121
1300.130.00013131
1500.150.00015151
1800.180.00018181
2200.220.00022221
3300.330.00033331
4700.470.00047471
5600.560.00056561
6800.680.00068681
7500.750.00075751
8200.820.00082821
10001.00.001102
15001.50.0015152
20002.00.002202
22002.20.0022222
33003.30.0033332
47004.70.0047472
50005.00.005502
56005.60.0056562
10000100.1102
15000150.015152
22000220.022223
33000330.033333
47000470.047473
68000680.068683
1000001000.1104
1500001500.15154
2000002000.2254
2200002200.22224
3300003300.33334
4700004700.47474
6800006800.68684
100000010001.0105
150000015001.5154
200000020002.0205
220000022002.2225
330000033003.3335
470000047004.7475

The last number written on a ceramic capacitor is the power of 10 and multiplied with the first two no.
Suppose a ceramic capacitor has written 682 code; at first, check the last number. So as we can see, here is the last number is 2. Now the multiplier is 102

Some examples

  1. 204 = 20×10= 200000 PF
  2. 472 = 47×10= 4700 PF
  3. 502 = 50×10= 5000 PF
  4. 330 = 33×10= 33 PF   [10= 1]

UNITS

  1. 1000 nanofarad(nF) = 1 microfarad(µF)
  2. 1 picofarad = 10-12farads.
  3. Nano= 10-9
  4. Micro= 10-6
  5. 1 Nano Farad= 10-9 Farad
  6. 1 Microfarad (µF)= 10-6 Farad

1 nF = 1000 pF
1 pF = 0.001 nF

Example: 

convert 15 nF to pF:
15 nF = 15 × 1000 pF = 15000 pF

Capacitor voltage code

0G4VDC0L5.5VDC0J6.3VDC
1A10VDC1C16VDC1E25VDC
1H50VDC1J63VDC1K80VDC
2A100VDC2Q110VDC2B125VDC
2C160VDC2Z180VDC2D200VDC
2P220VDC2E250VDC2F315VDC
2V350VDC2G400VDC2W450VDC
2H500VDC2J630VDC3A1000VDC

Related content

by William Jon
Hello, I'm William Jon. I'm a ceramic researcher, ceramic artist, writer, and professional blogger since 2010. I studied at the NYS college of ceramics at Alfred University in the USA about ceramic. I'm a professional ceramicist. Now I'm researching the ceramic products in Wilson Ceramic Laboratory (WCL) and reviewing them to assist online customers.

2 thoughts on “How to read ceramic capacitor”

  1. Excellent site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest.

    Reply
  2. I am trying to figure out what YY at the top of a capacitor means I have an old ceramic capacitor YY at the top.01m in the middle underline and KCK at the bottom

    Reply

Leave a Comment