Tool to find the value of a capacitor. The Capacitor color code is similar to that of resistors and therefore applies partly to capacitors and provides a visual value.
Capacitor Color Code - dCode
Tag(s) : Electronics
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Capacitor Color Code
Capacitor Color Code Calculator
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is a capacitor? (Definition)
A capacitor is an electronic component capable of temporarily storing an electrical charge before discharging it.
A capacitor is characterized by its capacitance expressed in farads (F).
How to read a capacitor value?
To read the value of a capacitor, the user must consult the markings printed on its body. These markings indicate the capacitance of the capacitor in farads (F) as well as its nominal voltage.
Capacitors generally use a capacitance color code similar to the color code of resistors, but sometimes the code is 3 numbers and 1 letter.
The formula for calculating the value of a capacitor is: $$ ( [\texttt{Color1}] \times 10 + [\texttt{Color2}] ) \times 10 ^ {[\texttt{Color3}]} ± [\texttt{Color4}]\% $$
The first 2 colors indicate the significant figures of the capacitance value (in pF), the next color is the corresponding power of 10, the fourth color (or letter) indicates the tolerance (optional) and always optionally, a fifth color indicates the admissible voltage.
The table of color code / number / letter associations is as follows:
| Black | 0 | |
| Brown | 1 | F |
| Red | 2 | G |
| Orange | 3 | W |
| Yellow | 4 | P |
| Green | 5 | D |
| Blue | 6 | C |
| Purple/Violet | 7 | B |
| Grey | 8 | L/A |
| White | 9 | |
| Gold | -1 | J |
| Silver | -2 | K |
| Pink | -3 |
Example: A capacitor [Red, Blue, Orange, Green] has corresponding values for colors Red = 2, Blue = 6, Orange = 3, Green = 5. The calculation is $ 26 \times 10^3 ± 5 \% = 26000 pF ± 5% = 26 nF ± 5% $ (Tolerance)
What is the unit for capacitors?
The capacitors have capacities expressed in Farad. In practice sub-multiples are used:
1 F = 1000 mF (milli Farad)
1 mF = 1000 µF ou uF (micro Farad)
1 µF = 1000 nF (nano Farad)
1 nF = 1000 pF (pico Farad)
How to read the value of a 3-digit capacitor?
Sometimes the value of the capacitor is indicated with 3 numbers (and sometimes 1 letter). As with the colors, the first 2 are the significant figures, and the third corresponds to the power of 10. Any letter indicates the tolerance.
Example: 123 corresponds to the calculation $ 12 \times 10^3 = 12 nF $
What is the tolerance?
The tolerance of a capacitor indicates the possible margin of error of its capacitance compared to the nominal value written on the component.
It is expressed as a percentage and gives an idea of the precision of the capacitor.
Example: A capacitor with a tolerance of ±10% and a nominal capacitance of 100 nF can have an actual capacitance between 90 nF and 110 nF.
How to read the tolerance?
The colors/letters associated with the capacitor tolerance are as follows:
| (Empty) | ±20% | |
| Silver | ±10% | K |
| Gold | ±5% | J |
| Red | ±2% | G |
| Brown | ±1% | F |
| Green | ±0.5% | D |
| Blue | ±0.25% | C |
| Violet | ±0.1% | B |
| Orange | ±0.05% | W |
| Yellow | ±0.02% | P |
| Gray | ±0.01% | L/A |
Source code
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Capacitor Color Code on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2024-12-21,
