Capacitor color coding; Capacitor coding; How to find capacitor value

📘 Capacitor Marking & Coding Guide

1. Direct Value Marking

·         Electrolytic capacitors are usually marked directly:

o    Example: 10 μF → 10 microfarads

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2. Digit Code System

(a) 2-Digit Code

·         Value given directly in pF

·         Example: 21 pF → 21 pico farad

(b) 3-Digit Code

·         First 2 digits = significant figures

·         Third digit = multiplier (power of 10)

Multiplier Digit	Multiplier Value
0	×1
1	×10
2	×100
3	×1,000
4	×10,000
5	×100,000
6	– (rare / obsolete)
7	– (rare / obsolete)
8	×0.01
9	×0.1

🔹 Example:
322 → 32 × 100 = 3,200 pF = 3.2 nF

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3. Tolerance Letter Codes

Letter	Tolerance
D	±0.5%
F	±1%
G	±2%
H	±3%
J	±5%
K	±10%
M	±20%
P	+100% / –0%
Z	+80% / –20%

🔹 Example:
103J → 10,000 pF (10 nF) ±5%

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4. Unit Equivalents

·         1,000,000 pF = 1,000 nF = 1 μF

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5. Capacitor Color Code (like resistors)

·         Capacitors may have 4 bands:

1.      (Optional) Temperature coefficient

2.      First digit

3.      Second digit

4.      Multiplier

🔹 Example:

·         2nd band: Orange = 3

·         3rd band: Red = 2

·         4th band: Orange = ×1,000

Result → 32 × 1,000 = 32,000 pF = 32 nF

Tolerance by last band

·         For values >10 pF: follow tolerance colors (similar to resistor chart)

·         Example: Last band Green → ±0.5%

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✅ Takeaway:

·         Use 2-digit / 3-digit codes for small caps.

·         Look for tolerance letter if printed.

·         For color-coded types, treat like resistors.

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