How to Measure Capacitors with Multimeters – Capacitors are Electronic Components that can store electrical charge in a while. To measure the value of a capacitor, we need a measuring device called a capacitance meter. Capacitance Meter is a special measuring device that only measures the capacitance value of a capacitor. In addition to capacitance meters, there are also combined measuring instruments that can measure several types of electronic components, including LCR Meter and Multimeter.
LCR Meter is a measuring device that can measure the values of L (Inductance / Inductance, to measure inductor or Coil), C (Capacitance / Capacitance, to measure Capacitor or Condenser) and R (Resistance / Resistance, to measure Resistance or Resistor) while Multimeter is a combined measuring instrument that gets to measure Current, Voltage, Resistance (Resistance) and also tests several kinds of Electronic Components such as Diodes, Capacitors, Transistors and Resistors.
Currently, there are many types of Digital Multimeters that have a function to measure the value of capacitors so that we do not need to buy special tools to measure the value of capacitor capacitance and of course Multimeter as a combined measuring instrument has a certain limit in measuring the capacitance of a capacitor. Capacitors that have large capacitance especially in Electrolyte Capacitors (ELCO) cannot all be measured in value by a Digital Multimeter. As an example on one of the Multimeters with the brand name SANWA type CD800a, the limit of measurement of Capacitor Capacitance only ranges from 50nF to 100μF.
To test whether capacitor components can function properly, we can also use analog multimeters with resistance scales (Ohm). Analog multimeters cannot know with certainty the capacitance value of a capacitor, but it is useful enough to know whether the capacitor is in good condition or damaged (such as leaking or short(short circuit)).
Read Also Capacitor symbols and functions and their types
Testing Capacitors with Analog Multimeters
Here’s how to test an electrolyte capacitor (ELCO) with an analog multimeter:
- Set selector scale position to Ohm (Ω) with x1K scale
- Connect a Red (Positive) Probe to the positive capacitor’s foot
- Connect a Black (Negative) Probe to the negative capacitor’s foot
- Check the Needle on the Analog Multimeter Display, a good capacitor: The needle moves up and then back again. Damaged capacitor: The needle moves up but does not return again. Damaged capacitor: The needle does not rise at all.
Measuring Capacitors with Digital Multimeters (Which Have Meter Capacitance Function)
How to measure Capacitors with Digital Multimeters that have a capacity meter function is quite easy, here’s how:
- Set the position of the selector scale to the capacitor sign or symbol
- Connect the probe to the capacitor terminal.
- Read the Capacitance Value of the Capacitor.
The thing to remember, the above method can only be used on Digital Multimeters that have the ability to measure Capacitance.
To be more accurate, of course, we need a special measuring instrument to measure the Capacitance Value of a Capacitor such as LCR meter and Capacitance Meter. The way of measuring is almost the same as how to use a Digital Multimeter, it’s just that we need to determine the capacitance value closest to the Capacitor that we will measure by setting the LCR meter selector switch and the meter capacitance. Below is an image of the shape of Capacitance Meter, LCR Meter and Multimeter.
