Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

Gough Lui — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 10:47:29 GMT

Just thought I'd throw this link in for others since I was always somewhat confused about the selection of Series vs Parallel modes for my LCR meter and when to use either mode:

https://community.keysight.com/thread/25877

Short of it is that there's a wide grey zone where either probably would give you the right answer.

- Gough

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

Fred27 — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 09:55:03 GMT

Really informative. Puts a lot of theory into context.

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

jw0752 — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 05:00:17 GMT

Hi Shabaz,

I just spent an hour with my latest acquisition an LCR (Medium price range). Thanks to your great tutorial I happily measured capacitances and calculated the ESRs from the meters displayed DF. I found some correspondences to your results for the different types of caps. You make electronics a lot more fun.

John

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

rscasny — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 19:09:39 GMT

Thanks Shabaz!

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

snidhi — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 11:45:07 GMT

Not to forget the current shortage of the MLCC capacitors made the headlines.

https://www.avnet.com/wps/portal/abacus/solutions/technologies/passive/capacitors/the-global-mlcc-shortage/

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

Gough Lui — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:48:20 GMT

A good look at the topic - as someone who owns an LCR meter, I definitely prefer it to using the BA6010 in a majority of cases. That being said, as far as I know, LCR meters (such as the U1733C I use mostly) that measure at a range of frequencies are doing it through an AC waveform without any bias (as far as I know). I too, was concerned about the reverse polarity effects on electrolytic capacitors, but seeing as the datasheets often do have information about internal resistance (sometimes at 100khz AC), I suspected it wouldn't cause any permanent damage. Or at least, I hope not. Electrolytics like to get violent when they fail.

- Gough

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

genebren — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:49:54 GMT

Very informative and well written blog on capacitors.

Thanks,

Gene

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

DAB — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:15:38 GMT

Great review.

I have not looked at components at this level since Tech School.

DAB

RE: Measuring Capacitor Characteristics

three-phase — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:22:28 GMT

Well written mini tutorial.

Kind regards