Capacitor Codes and Conversions
Understanding capacitor values often requires switching between different units of measurement. Capacitance is typically measured in Picofarads (pF), Nanofarads (nF), and Microfarads (µF).
Quick Reference Chart
You can use the chart below to quickly identify common capacitor codes or use the conversion tool to translate between units such as pF, nF, µF, and Farads (F).
How to Convert Units
If you are working with a specific value, remember these standard conversion factors:
- 1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF
- 1 nF = 0.001 µF = 1,000 pF
- 1 pF = 0.000001 µF = 0.001 nF
| Code | pF | nF | µF |
|---|
How Capacitor Codes Work
Ceramic and film capacitors are often marked with a 3-digit code instead of the actual capacitance value. This is because the components are too small to print the full value. Understanding how to read these codes is essential when building or repairing circuits.
Reading the 3-Digit Code
The first two digits represent the significant figures of the capacitance value in picofarads (pF). The third digit is the multiplier — it tells you the power of 10 to multiply by.
Example: 104 → 10 × 10⁴ = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF
Tolerance Letters
Some capacitors include a letter after the 3-digit code that indicates tolerance. The most common tolerance codes are: J (±5%), K (±10%), and M (±20%). For example, a capacitor marked “104K” has a capacitance of 0.1 µF with a ±10% tolerance.
Unit Conversion Formulas
1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF
1 nF = 1,000 pF
µF → nF : multiply by 1,000
µF → pF : multiply by 1,000,000
nF → pF : multiply by 1,000
pF → nF : divide by 1,000
pF → µF : divide by 1,000,000
nF → µF : divide by 1,000