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range by observing the needle when first connected; current will flow to charge the capacitor and the needle will "kick" from infinite indicated resistance to a relatively low value, and then drift up to infinity. The amplitude of the kick is an indication of capacitance. Interpreting results requires some experience, or comparison with a good capacitor, and depends upon the particular meter and range used.
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in a resistance range can detect a short-circuited capacitor (very low resistance) or one with very high leakage (high resistance, but lower than it should be; an ideal capacitor has infinite DC resistance). A crude idea of the capacitance can be derived with an analog multimeter in a high resistance
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or only show up with the working voltage applied, and are not revealed by measurements with equipment, however sophisticated, which uses low test voltages. Some problems are revealed by using a "freezer" spray and observing the effect on circuit operation. Ultimately, in difficult cases routine
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333:. By varying the values of the other legs in the bridge (so as to bring the bridge into balance), the value of the unknown capacitor is determined. This method of
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can be measured if a low enough range is available. Leakage current is measured by applying a direct voltage and measuring the current in the normal way.
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Some more specialised instruments measure capacitance over a wide range using the techniques described above, and can also measure other parameters. Low
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use of measuring capacitance ensures greater precision. The bridge usually can also measure series resistance and inductance. Through the use of
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replacement of capacitors (relatively cheap components) is easier than arranging measurements of all relevant parameters in working conditions.
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and other careful design techniques, these instruments can usually measure capacitors over a range from picofarads to farads. Combined
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testing to allow simple automated use in a production environment. As with all modern instruments, bridges can be interfaced to
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More sophisticated instruments use other techniques such as inserting the capacitor-under-test into a
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Modern bridge instruments usually include a digital display and, where relevant, some sort of
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Some checks can be made without a specialised instrument, particularly on aluminium
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which tend to be of high capacitance and to be subject to poor leakage. A
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that can measure inductance, resistance, and capacitance are available.
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381:"Digital Capacitance Meter: An Essential Tool for Modern Electronics"
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Measurement the capacity of rotary capacitor with digital multimeter
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and other equipment to export readings and allow external control.
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only, or it may also measure a number of other parameters such as
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Bridge circuits do not themselves measure leakage current, but a
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to a few hundred microfarads, but wider ranges are not unusual.
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bias voltage can be applied and the leakage measured directly.
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It is also possible to measure capacitance by passing a known
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When troubleshooting circuit problems, a few problems are
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through the device under test and measuring the resulting
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across it (does not work for polarised capacitors).
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51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
212:and measuring the rate of rise of the resulting
179:Simple checks without a true capacitance meter
434:Electrical and electronic measuring equipment
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8:
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175:; ESR can usually be measured in circuit.
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
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7:
49:adding citations to reliable sources
14:
16:Type of electronic test equipment
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36:needs additional citations for
127:Capacitance meter designed by
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630:Arbitrary waveform generator
533:Transformer ratio arm bridge
196:Simple and non-bridge meters
165:equivalent series resistance
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681:Electronic test equipment
635:Digital pattern generator
528:Time-to-digital converter
523:Time-domain reflectometer
145:electronic test equipment
325:2700A capacitance bridge
385:Electricity – Magnetism
185:electrolytic capacitors
655:Video-signal generator
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136:
676:Measuring instruments
483:Microwave power meter
320:
307:parasitic capacitance
151:, mainly of discrete
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508:Peak programme meter
206:capacitor under test
45:improve this article
284:alternating current
202:digital volt meters
60:"Capacitance meter"
640:Function generator
339:Kelvin connections
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599:Spectrum analyzer
538:Transistor tester
468:Frequency counter
463:Electricity meter
453:Capacitance meter
141:capacitance meter
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650:Signal generator
604:Waveform monitor
584:Network analyzer
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323:Andeen-Hagerling
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147:used to measure
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579:Logic analyzer
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129:Harry Garland
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101:February 2024
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62: –
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56:Find sources:
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34:This article
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23:
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589:Oscilloscope
574:Bus analyzer
473:Galvanometer
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391:February 20,
389:. Retrieved
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295:intermittent
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43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
609:Vectorscope
543:Tube tester
513:Psophometer
493:Megohmmeter
200:Many DVMs (
167:(ESR), and
157:capacitance
149:capacitance
133:Roger Melen
670:Categories
623:Generation
614:Videoscope
503:Peak meter
488:Multimeter
367:References
343:LCR meters
218:nanofarads
189:multimeter
169:inductance
153:capacitors
71:newspapers
553:Voltmeter
548:Wattmeter
478:LCR meter
274:= 520 pF
256:= 269 pF
567:Analysis
558:VU meter
498:Ohmmeter
441:Metering
361:computer
357:go/no go
335:indirect
241:= 29 pF
518:Q meter
448:Ammeter
313:Bridges
288:voltage
214:voltage
210:current
173:circuit
161:leakage
85:scholar
387:. 2024
87:
80:
73:
66:
58:
303:stray
92:JSTOR
78:books
393:2024
305:and
131:and
64:news
321:An
272:max
239:min
47:by
672::
383:.
350:DC
163:,
139:A
426:e
419:t
412:v
395:.
269:C
254:C
236:C
135:.
114:)
108:(
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99:(
89:·
82:·
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68:·
41:.
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