How to check if the capacitor is working?

Preparatory work for

Before you check the serviceability of the capacitor, it must be discharged. For this, it is best to use a conventional screwdriver. With a sting, you must touch both the barrel's two leads at the same time to create a spark. After a small flash, you can proceed to the health check.

Method number 1 - Multimeter to help

If the capacitor does not work, then it is best to check its performance with a multimeter or a tester. This device allows you to determine the capacity of the "condender", the presence of a break inside the keg or the occurrence of a short circuit in the circuit. We already told you how to use the multimeter, so we recommend that you first read this article. If you know how to work as a tester, things are much easier.

The first thing you need to do is determine which capacitor is in the circuit: polar( electrolytic) or non-polar. The fact is that when checking a polar product, it is necessary to observe the polarity: the positive probe should be pressed against the positive leg, and the negative probe, respectively, to the minus. In the case of a non-polar version of the part, it is not necessary to observe the polarity, but it will also have to be checked using a different technology( we will discuss this below).After you have decided on the type of the element, you can proceed to the test works, which we will now consider in turn.

Measuring the resistance

So, first you need to check the resistance of the capacitor multimeter. For this, we solder the barrel from the circuit and with the help of tweezers accurately move it to the work surface, for example, a free table.

After that, we switch the tester into the continuity mode( resistance measurement) and touch the leads to the terminals, observing the polarity.

We draw your attention to the fact that if you confuse a minus with a plus, the performance check may end unsuccessfully, becausethe capacitor will immediately fail. That this did not happen, remember the next moment - the producers always mark a negative contact with a tick!

After you touch the probes to the feet, the digital multimeter should display the first value, which will instantly start to grow. This is due to the fact that the tester will start charging the capacitor on contact.

After a while, the maximum value of "1" appears on the display, indicating that the part is working.

If you just started testing the capacitor with a multimeter, and you have "1", then inside the keg there was a breakage and it is defective. At the same time, the appearance of zero on the scoreboard indicates that a short circuit occurred inside the condender.

If you choose to use an analog multimeter( switch) to determine the resistance, then determining the operability of the element will be even easier by observing the progress of the arrow. As in the previous case, the minimum and maximum value will indicate the failure of the part, and a smooth increase in resistance will mean the suitability of the polar capacitor.

To independently check the integrity of the non-polar conder at home, it is enough to touch the test probes to the legs without observing the polarity, setting the measurement range to 2 megawatts. The display should show a value greater than two. If it is not, the capacitor is not working and it needs to be replaced.

It should also be noted that the above verification method is only suitable for products with a capacity greater than 0.25 μF.If the value of the circuit element is smaller, you first need to make sure that the multimeter is able to work in this mode, well, or buy a special tester - LC-meter.

Measuring the capacity of

The next way to test the product performance is to breakdown, by measuring the capacitive characteristics of the conder and comparing it with the nominal value( indicated by the manufacturer on the outer shell, which is clearly visible in the photo).

It is not difficult at all to measure capacitance of a capacitor by a multimeter. It is only necessary to switch the switch to the measuring range, relying on the nominal value and, if the tester has special landing nests, insert the part in them, as shown in the photo below.

If there is no such function in the tester, you can check the capacitance with probes, similar to the previous method. When probes are connected, the display should show a capacitance, close in value to the nominal characteristics. If this is not the case, then the capacitor is broken and the part needs to be replaced.

Measuring voltage

Another way to find out whether a working capacitor is or not is to check its voltage with a voltmeter( well, or "multikom") and compare the result with the nominal value. For testing, you will need a power supply with a slightly lower voltage, for example, for a 25-volt condender, there is enough a voltage source of 9 volts. Observing the polarity, connect the test leads to the legs and wait a few seconds, which is quite enough for charging.

We draw your attention to the fact that when connecting the voltmeter the barrel will gradually lose its charge, so a reliable voltage can be seen only at the very beginning of the measurements!

Immediately I would like to say a few words about how to test a capacitor of high capacity in a simple way. First you have to fully charge the element for a few seconds, then close the contacts with a conventional screwdriver with an insulated handle. If the keg is a worker, a bright spark should appear. If there is no spark or it is very dull, the capacitor most likely does not work, or rather - does not hold a charge.

Did you not understand any verification step? Then review the technology of testing the capacitor performance with a multimeter in this video lesson:

Method number 2 - We can do without the

devices. A less qualitative way of testing the capacity of the capacitive element is by using self-made dashes in the form of a light bulb and two wires. In this way, you can only test the capacitor for a short circuit. As in the case of a screwdriver, first we load the part, then touch the legs with the probe terminals. If the conder works, there will be a spark that will discharge it instantly. We also talked about how to make an electrician's control lamp.

What else is important to know?

Not always a capacitor performance check requires the use of a multimeter or other testers. Sometimes it is sufficient to visually look at the external state of the product, that it is checked for swelling or breakdown. First, look carefully at the top of the keg, on which the manufacturer made a cross( a weak spot preventing the explosion of the condender in case of failure).

If you see leakage or destruction of insulation there, then the capacitor is broken, and it's no longer worth checking it with a tester. Also, carefully look at whether this element of the circuit has not darkened or not, which happens very often. Well, we should not forget that it is possible that the damage occurred on the board itself near the place of connection of the capacitor. This malfunction can be seen with the naked eye, especially when there is a detachment of tracks or a discoloration of the board.

Another important point that you should take into consideration is that the product should be checked only by removing it from the board. If you want to check the capacitor without draining it out of the circuit, note that there may be a large measurement error due to the nearby elements of the circuit.

That's all I wanted to tell you about how to test the capacitor's performance with a multimeter in the home. We recommend you to use this manual when repairing microfibers or washing machines with your own hands.this type of household appliances very often there is this breakdown. In addition, the condender often stops working on air conditioners, amplifiers and even video cards. Therefore, if you wish to repair something yourself, we hope that this instruction will help you!

Also read:

• How to check the operation of the
• meter How to determine the phase of the
• How to determine the phase and zero without instruments