Color ring representation of chip capacitors

What do the coloured bands on a capacitor mean?

These coloured bands represent the capacitance value as per the colour code including voltage rating and tolerance. Sometimes the actual values of capacitance, voltage or tolerance are marked onto the body of a capacitor in the form of alphanumeric characters.

What does a color code on a capacitor mean?

Although the capacitance value may be printed on the body of a capacitor, it may also be indicated by a color code. Similar to that used to represent resistance values, the color code of capacitor also represents capacitance values. The values of the capacitor are indicated using codes, colored dots or bands.

How to determine capacitance of a capacitor using colour coding system?

Using this international colour coding system the user can determine the value of capacitance of the capacitor including the tolerances. In this colour coding system the colour bands are used to determine the capacitance value. Table bellow shows the colour bands to determine the value of the capacitor.

What does the marking on a capacitor mean?

Every capacitor has a special marking printed on its body. It represents the value or colour code of capacitor. There are different types of capacitor and each has its specified capacitance value, voltage rating, temperature range, tolerance and life time. But most of the capacitors have their value and their voltage printed on their body.

How to identify capacitor values & tolerances?

For identifying the capacitor values and tolerances international colour coding scheme (electronic colour coding) was introduced. Every capacitor has colors or alphanumeric characters on the body which indicates the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor. The capacitance can range from 1pico factor to 1 farad.

What color is a capacitance multiplier?

This dot is either black, white, silver, or the same color as the capacitor body. The first and second digits of the capacitance value are represented by the two dots to the immediate right of the type. The multiplier to be used is represented by the dot at the bottom right.