Safety capacitor marking standard picture

What are the different types of capacitor markings & codes?

The various parameters of the capacitors such as their voltage and tolerance along with their values is represented by different types of markings and codes. Some of these markings and codes include capacitor polarity marking; capacity colour code; and ceramic capacitor code respectively.

What is a capacitor marking?

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.

How to identify a capacitor?

Thus, for such concise markings many different types of schemes or solutions are adopted. The value of the capacitor is indicated in “Picofarads”. Some of the marking figures which can be observed are 10n which denotes that the capacitor is of 10nF. In a similar way, 0.51nF is indicated by the marking n51.

What type of safety capacitor should I use?

Subclass X2 and Y2 are the most common type of subclass for applications that use 120VAC (USA) or 220/240VAC (Europe). X/Y combination capacitors are also available, so you might consider using one of these, as well. Whichever safety capacitor you choose, make sure that it has all the proper safety-approval logo markings.

How do you mark a capacitor?

Numerical Markings One of the most common formats for capacitor markings is the numerical code. This is typically a series of three or four digits, which represent the capacitance value and sometimes the tolerance. Three-digit code: The first two digits represent the significant figures, and the third digit indicates the number of zeros to add.

What does a color code on a capacitor mean?

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.