How To Read Ceramic Capacitor Tantalum

When subjected to changes in temperature tantalum capacitors usually show linear capacitance change while ceramic capacitors usually have a non linear response.

How to read ceramic capacitor tantalum.

The blue trace shows the impedance of the tantalum capacitors alone while the red trace shows the impedance of the tantalum capacitors combined with the ceramic capacitors. The unit microfarad µf is used to mark the values in the leaded tantalum capacitors. For small values the letter r is used to denote a decimal point e g. Tantalum capacitors have a potentially dangerous failure mode.

An example of a typical marking observed on a capacitor is 22 and 6v. 0r5 is 0 5 1r0 is 1 0 and 2r2 is 2 2 etc. How to read a capacitor. We can not directly measure capacitance with ordinary multimeters like that we have shown on article on multimeter for dummies.

In contrast to tantalum capacitors ceramic capacitors have less overall plate area and significantly thicker layers but compensate for such deficiencies by using dielectric materials with a much higher dielectric constant. Values are normally printed on capacitors in micro farad uf with voltage. Slight variations are common so look for the value that most closely matches the units above. Read the capacitance value.

The impedance below 10khz is managed by the control loop. Figure 2a 2b. Tantalum capacitor these brightly colored gumdrop capacitors are polarity sensitive where the positive lead is longer than the negative. Here is how to read ceramic capacitor values.

These figures indicate that the capacitor is of 22µf and 6v is its maximum voltage. Markings of leaded tantalum capacitor. It should be noted that tantalum capacitors usually have their positive terminal marked in contrast to aluminum electrolytic capacitors which have their negative terminal marked on the casing. The impedance just meets the target impedance requirement at 100mhz.

Tantalum capacitors usually have the capacitance value maximum voltage rating and polarity printed right on the component. The value of the capacitor is denoted in picofarads for ceramic film and tantalum capacitors but for aluminium electrolytic capacitors the value is denoted in microfarads. 10 6 10 to the power 6 pico farad pf is equal to 1 micro farad uf. A molded tantalum capacitor top and a microchip style tantalum capacitor bottom ceramic capacitors.

Most large capacitors have a capacitance value written on the side.