How To Test Capacitor Using Analog Multimeter
Analog multimeters are traditional style meters. It is a tool used to measure electrical quantities– Voltage, current, resistance, frequency and power signal.
Analog multimeters are also used to find electronic and electrical problems. Advanced analog multimeters have advanced functions like; capacitor testing, diode testing and IC testing.
Table of Contents
Difference b/w an Analog & Digital multimeter
Analog multimeters are testing meters consisting of a coil meter. This is an analog form of meter, and the screen has a needle display to measure current, voltage or resistance.
Whereas in contrast to it, the digital multimeters are advanced multimeters with a numerical screen and digital display. It has combined capabilities within a single task. It can also measure current, voltage and resistance. Compare to anlog meters, digital multimeters are easy to use, advanced in functions. But digital multi-meters are higher in prices.
What is a capacitor?
A capacitor is a small cylinder like built-in device connected to many appliances with its two terminal ends.
Capacitors are used in an electrical or electronic circuit to block direct current to the device. Pass the alternating current into the respective device. It restores the current to flow electric current continuously.
The function of a capacitor
A capacitor has two static plates. When the primary plate of the capacitor does not hold the electric charge, it releases back into the circuit through the second plate.
The process of storing current and releasing current in a circuit is known as charging & discharging the capacitor.
How to check a capacitor
There are many types of electronic and electrical appliances in the market. These appliances have a different range of voltage spikes used. As a result, some of the appliances are very sensitive to voltage swings. This is because of the capacitor, which is also sensitive to voltage swings.
Therefore, it has a chance of damage permanently. To overcome this problem, a capacitor test is required because it plays an essential role in the current supply to check the functionality of a capacitor.
Going through a simple process to decide whether or not the capacitor is still serviceable for using a multi-meter friendly simple process works very well.
All we need to do first, we turn the multimeter to ohms and touch the ends of the capacitor terminals, okay, make sure the ends don’t touch, now we turn the multimeter to volts D/C.
Connect the ends of the multi-meter back onto the capacitor, and we can see that there’s a registered voltage registering on there which is gradually discharging through the multi-meter. It proves, that this capacitor should work01:19 perfectly well we can do the same.
A process on a smaller capacitor turns it to ohms turn it back to volts, and again it’s registered, and the voltage is gradually discharging through a multi-meter. Again, this capacitor would work perfectly well, this is a simple process, can save a lot of time.
How To Test a Capacitor Using an Analog Multimeter
The analog multimeter can measure ampere, voltage, and ohmmeter by following these steps.
- Check the capacitor if it is charge or discharge.
- We will follow the procedure to discharge a capacitor first.
- Use ampere, voltage, Ohm settings. Move the analog dial to Ohm settings.
- Always choose a high range of ohms.
- Connect the two leads of the meter to the two terminals of the capacitor.
- The short capacitor will show significantly less resistance.
- The open capacitor will not demonstrate any deflection over the Ohm meter display.
- The good capacitor will illustrate low resistance; after that, the meter needle will move forward and return to its original position. It means the capacitor is in an excellent state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adjust the dial meter settings to Ohms, and by touching the leads to the terminals of the capacitor, a reading will appear on the meter screen.
Move the dial setting towards the power supply voltage to about +5 volts.
Then decrease the amount of resistance gently in the decade box until the analogue meter shows exactly full-scale. Please do not exceed the reading; it will damage the meter. In addition to this, carefully do not decrease the resistance to less than 100 ohms.
The analog readings for the diode test are more accurate, and the analog meters are good in budget.
A digital meter is safe and accurate, and easy to use. Digital meters are advanced in functions. In comparison, Analog meters are cheaper.
Conclusion
In this article, I describe to you what is a capacitor, and why we need a capacitor. We have learned the Different types of functions of a capacitor. We also know to detect the current in a capacitor– how to charge and discharge it. By using an analog multimeter, we learn how to see voltage in an analog meter. Finally, we know that the function of a capacitor is to store an electric charge and how the analog multimeter tells us that the capacitor is in good condition or not functioning.
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