Capacitors are passive electronic components used to store electrical energy in an electric field. They are widely used in various electronic circuits and devices, such as power supplies, filters, timing circuits, and energy storage systems. Understanding how to read capacitors is essential for anyone working with electronics.
Capacitors are typically marked with three pieces of information: capacitance, voltage rating, and tolerance. Capacitance is measured in farads (F) and indicates the amount of electrical charge a capacitor can store. Voltage rating specifies the maximum voltage that can be applied to the capacitor without causing damage. Tolerance indicates the allowable variation in capacitance from the marked value.