Music From Outer Space Resistor Calculator

Music From Outer Space Capacitor 101

Capacitors 101
Capacitors are passive electronic components that store energy in the form of an electrostatic field. A capacitor consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulating material called the dielectric. Capacitance is directly proportional to the surface areas of the plates, and is inversely proportional to the separation between the plates. Capacitance also depends on the dielectric constant of the substance separating the plates.
Capacitors are usually measured in microfarads abbreviated uF (1 湩 = .000001 Farad) and picofarads, abbreviated pF (1 pF = .000000000001 F).
Capacitors (or caps) are used in timers, filters, interstage coupling, power supplies, etc.
The working voltage of a capacitor is the voltage that can safely be applied without breaking down the dielectric material and causing the capacitor to short and be destroyed. When building a circuit be sure to buy caps that have a working voltage at least twice the highest potential you plan to apply to them in normal use. 50V electrolytic caps and 50V (or higher) non-polarized caps are common values to use.

This is the schematic symbol for a non-polarized capacitor. These include ceramic, film and chip types. These types of caps may be inserted into a circuit without regard to orientation of the leads. They work the same in either direction. Typically the capacitance of these types ranges from a few picofarads to a couple of microfarads.

This is the schematic symbol for a polarized capacitor. These include aluminum electrolytic and tantalum caps. These types of caps must be inserted into a circuit with the proper lead orientation or bad things will happen. They DO NOT work the same in either direction. The capacitance of these types ranges from a few microfarads up to a farad (or larger).

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors
As explained above these must be oriented properly when inserted into a circuit. They come in radial (both leads on the same end) and axial (leads on both ends) configurations. The lead configuration (axial or radial) makes no difference to the operation of the cap. They are clearly marked as to their capacitance, working voltage, and lead orientation. These types have higher leakage than tantalum caps. These are good for power supply filtering (10s of thousands of uFs) and power supply bypass caps (10 of uFs).

Tantalum Capacitors
Tantalum caps pack a lot of capacitance into a small space but beware to get the correct working voltage and to orient them properly or they will go off like fire crackers. They are made of sintered tantalum, which provides a lot of nooks and crannies for surface area (thus the high capacitance in the small package). The dielectric is formed over the sintered pellet and then a conductive layer is applied. To be safe always use a bit higher working voltage then you intend to apply to the cap (x1.5 to x2.0 is a good safety factor). These types have relatively low leakage. They're good for ADSR timing caps (1 - 10 uF) and power supply bypass caps (10 of uFs). The longer lead is the positive lead.

Ceramic Disc Capacitors
General-purpose non-polarized caps useful for power supply bypassing and for passing AC signals in interstage coupling.

Metallized Film Capacitors
General-purpose non-polarized caps useful for power supply bypassing, passing AC signals in interstage coupling, filters, timers, oscillators, etc. Depending on the type you get these caps have very low leakage and good temperature stability. Types include: metallized film, polyester, polystyrene, mylar and polypropylene.

Reading Capacitor Values
Sometimes the cap will plainly state its value like .01uF or .01M (meaning .01uF) but most of the time you will need to translate the value from something like 101 to 100pF using the accompanying chart. Remember that 1uF = .000001 farad or 1,000,000 picofarads.
So to get the value for a cap remember this:

103 for example means 10 (and three zeroes) 000 or 10,000 pF or .01uF.

102 for example means 10 (and two zeroes) 00 or 1,000 pF or .001uF.

104 for example means 10 (and four zeroes) 0000 or 100,000 pF or .1uF.

For the number: Multiply by: LETTER TOLERANCE 10pF or LESS TOLERANCE OVER 10pF

0 1 B +/- 0.1pF

1 10 C +/-0.25pF

2 100 D +/- 0.5pF

3 1000 F +/- 1.0pF +/- 1%

4 10,000 G +/- 2.0pF +/- 2%

5 100,000 H +/- 3%

J +/- 5%

8 0.01 K +/- 10%

9 0.1 M +/- 20%


Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors As explained above these must be oriented properly when inserted into a circuit. They come in radial (both leads on the same end) and axial (leads on both ends) configurations. The lead configuration (axial or radial) makes no difference to the operation of the cap. They are clearly marked as to their capacitance, working voltage, and lead orientation. These types have higher leakage than tantalum caps. These are good for power supply filtering (10s of thousands of uFs) and power supply bypass caps (10 of uFs).
Tantalum Capacitors Tantalum caps pack a lot of capacitance into a small space but beware to get the correct working voltage and to orient them properly or they will go off like fire crackers. They are made of sintered tantalum, which provides a lot of nooks and crannies for surface area (thus the high capacitance in the small package). The dielectric is formed over the sintered pellet and then a conductive layer is applied. To be safe always use a bit higher working voltage then you intend to apply to the cap (x1.5 to x2.0 is a good safety factor). These types have relatively low leakage. They're good for ADSR timing caps (1 - 10 uF) and power supply bypass caps (10 of uFs). The longer lead is the positive lead.

Ceramic Disc Capacitors General-purpose non-polarized caps useful for power supply bypassing and for passing AC signals in interstage coupling.

Metallized Film Capacitors General-purpose non-polarized caps useful for power supply bypassing, passing AC signals in interstage coupling, filters, timers, oscillators, etc. Depending on the type you get these caps have very low leakage and good temperature stability. Types include: metallized film, polyester, polystyrene, mylar and polypropylene.

Reading Capacitor Values Sometimes the cap will plainly state its value like .01uF or .01M (meaning .01uF) but most of the time you will need to translate the value from something like 101 to 100pF using the accompanying chart. Remember that 1uF = .000001 farad or 1,000,000 picofarads. So to get the value for a cap remember this: 103 for example means 10 (and three zeroes) 000 or 10,000 pF or .01uF. 102 for example means 10 (and two zeroes) 00 or 1,000 pF or .001uF. 104 for example means 10 (and four zeroes) 0000 or 100,000 pF or .1uF.

For the number:	Multiply by:	LETTER	TOLERANCE 10pF or LESS	TOLERANCE OVER 10pF
0	1	B	+/- 0.1pF
1	10	C	+/-0.25pF
2	100	D	+/- 0.5pF
3	1000	F	+/- 1.0pF	+/- 1%
4	10,000	G	+/- 2.0pF	+/- 2%
5	100,000	H		+/- 3%
		J		+/- 5%
8	0.01	K		+/- 10%
9	0.1	M		+/- 20%