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Capacitor notation

P

Peter Hucker

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have two capacitors lying here, with the following inscriptions:
http://www.hucker.plus.com/temp/caps.jpg

One is blue and circular and reads:

B
102K
2KV

The other is green and a rounded rectangular shape and reads:

104K100V

The blue one reads approx 1nF on my meter, the green one reads approx 100nF.

This makes sense if you take the three numbers (102 or 104) read the same way as resistors - 1, 0, then 2 (or 4) zeroes. I.e. 1000 or 100000, and the units to be pF. So what does the K mean? I originally thought it was a multiplier (1000), but it seems unnecessary, unless the units without the K are in fF!

Also, what is the B on the blue one? I asssume it's not to indicate the colour ;-)

--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com http://www.petersphotos.com

Jack and Jill went up the hill
And planned to do some kissing.
Jack made a pass, and grabbed her ass
Now two of his teeth are missing.
 
D

Don Klipstein

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have two capacitors lying here, with the following inscriptions:
http://www.hucker.plus.com/temp/caps.jpg

One is blue and circular and reads:

B
102K
2KV

The other is green and a rounded rectangular shape and reads:

104K100V

The blue one reads approx 1nF on my meter, the green one reads approx
100nF.

This makes sense if you take the three numbers (102 or 104) read the
same way as resistors - 1, 0, then 2 (or 4) zeroes. I.e. 1000 or
100000, and the units to be pF. So what does the K mean? I originally
thought it was a multiplier (1000), but it seems unnecessary, unless the
units without the K are in fF!

K means 10% tolerance. J means 5% tolerance.

No tolerance code usually means 20% tolerance but can be worse. For
example, ceramics with Z5U and similar dielectrics usually have tolerance
of +80/-20% at 25 degrees C and the value varies greatly with temperature
- generally decreasing as the temperature goes much away from 25 C in
either direction.
Also, what is the B on the blue one? I asssume it's not to indicate the
colour ;-)

That I don't know.

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter said:
I have two capacitors lying here, with the following inscriptions:
http://www.hucker.plus.com/temp/caps.jpg

One is blue and circular and reads:

B
102K
2KV

The other is green and a rounded rectangular shape and reads:

104K100V

The blue one reads approx 1nF on my meter, the green one reads approx 100nF.

This makes sense if you take the three numbers (102 or 104) read the same way as resistors - 1, 0, then 2 (or 4) zeroes. I.e. 1000 or 100000, and the units to be pF. So what does the K mean? I originally thought it was a multiplier (1000), but it seems unnecessary, unless the units without the K are in fF!

Also, what is the B on the blue one? I asssume it's not to indicate the colour ;-)
I could translate these for you, but you should have a crack at them
yourself, first. See:
http://www.twysted-pair.com/capidcds.htm
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter said:
I have two capacitors lying here, with the following inscriptions:
http://www.hucker.plus.com/temp/caps.jpg

One is blue and circular and reads:

B
102K
2KV

The other is green and a rounded rectangular shape and reads:

104K100V

The blue one reads approx 1nF on my meter, the green one reads approx 100nF.

This makes sense if you take the three numbers (102 or 104) read the same way as resistors - 1, 0, then 2 (or 4) zeroes. I.e. 1000 or 100000, and the units to be pF.

That's it.

So what does the K mean? I originally thought it was a multiplier (1000), but it seems unnecessary, unless the units without the K are in fF!

K is 10% tolerance.

Also, what is the B on the blue one? I asssume it's not to indicate the colour ;-)

Manufacturer's mark.

Graham
 
J

Jamie

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter said:
I have two capacitors lying here, with the following inscriptions:
http://www.hucker.plus.com/temp/caps.jpg

One is blue and circular and reads:

B
102K
2KV

The other is green and a rounded rectangular shape and reads:

104K100V

The blue one reads approx 1nF on my meter, the green one reads approx 100nF.

This makes sense if you take the three numbers (102 or 104) read the same way as resistors - 1, 0, then 2 (or 4) zeroes. I.e. 1000 or 100000, and the units to be pF. So what does the K mean? I originally thought it was a multiplier (1000), but it seems unnecessary, unless the units without the K are in fF!

Also, what is the B on the blue one? I asssume it's not to indicate the colour ;-)
lets see, i'll take wack at it.
0.001 Uf at 10% ?
that's just a guess,. i just ordered some caps the other day, the K
was on the top of me head.
 
P

Peter Hucker

Jan 1, 1970
0
K means 10% tolerance. J means 5% tolerance.

Ah I see. Thanks.
No tolerance code usually means 20% tolerance but can be worse. For
example, ceramics with Z5U and similar dielectrics usually have tolerance
of +80/-20% at 25 degrees C and the value varies greatly with temperature
- generally decreasing as the temperature goes much away from 25 C in
either direction.

Ouch - are those things much use?
 
P

Peter Hucker

Jan 1, 1970
0
lets see, i'll take wack at it.
0.001 Uf at 10% ?
that's just a guess,. i just ordered some caps the other day, the K
was on the top of me head.

I wish I knew of a place in the UK that had their components organised better on their websites. Maplin are almost impossible to use, Farnell are getting close.

--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com http://www.petersphotos.com

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P

Phat Bytestard

Jan 1, 1970
0
Christ, what a mess! Rather ambiguous when the third number COULD be a multiplier.

The third digit IS ALWAYS a multiplier.

If it is expressed in 3 digit form, it is in picofarads to the order
of magnitude given in the third digit.

A nanofard part declaration is two significant digits with the lower
case "n" designation in the place where the third digit would be.

That was a greta page BTW. Nothing ambiguous at all.
 
P

Peter Hucker

Jan 1, 1970
0
The third digit IS ALWAYS a multiplier.

If it is expressed in 3 digit form, it is in picofarads to the order
of magnitude given in the third digit.

A nanofard part declaration is two significant digits with the lower
case "n" designation in the place where the third digit would be.

That was a greta page BTW. Nothing ambiguous at all.

http://www.twysted-pair.com/capidcds.htm shows a 150nF capacitor with "150". If the third digit was a multiplier, that would be 15 x 10^0 = 15nF, yet the site claims it is a 150nF cap.
 

PhilK

Sep 16, 2009
3
Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Messages
3
Kfj

I believe it is:

M = 20%
K = 10%
J = 5%
...
F = 1%

Ref: on the http : // WorldWideWeb (www)
wjoe.com
/capacitorinfo2.htm

PhilK
 
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