Standard Capacitor Values & Color Codes

HPE Invents 1st Memristor Laser

HPE Invents First Memristor Laser - RF Cafe"Researchers at Hewlett Packard Labs, where the first practical memristor was created, have invented a new variation on the device - a memristor laser..."

Over time, a series of standard capacitor values have evolved, just as with resistors and inductors. Capacitors are available in a huge range of package styles, voltage and current handling capacities, dielectric types, quality factors, and many other parameters. Still, they largely hold to this range of values.

Capacitors are one of the four fundamental types of passive electronic components; the other three are the inductor, the resistor, and the memristor. The basic unit of capacitance is the Farad (F).

In order to obtain other values of capacitance, it is necessary to use parallel and/or series combinations. Often, complex combinations are used in order to satisfy multiple requirements such as handling large voltages while still providing the correct amount of capacitance.

If you need to provide occasional tuning of a circuit, then it is necessary to use a variable capacitor. That can take the form of a manually adjusted capacitor, or an electrically tuned capacitor like a varactor diode (varicap).

Old rectangular or square package capacitor color code table - RF Cafe

Old Capacitor Color Code Chart

Molded Mica Type Capacitors (Centralab) - RF Cafe

Molded Mica Type Capacitors (Centralab)

Old ceramic axial lead package capacitor color code table - RF Cafe

Old Ceramic Axial Lead Capacitor Color Code Chart

These are the most commonly available capacitor values.

Tolerances are highly dependent on dielectric and package type.

pF pF pF pF µF µF µF µF µF µF µF
1.0 10 100 1000 0.01 0.1 1.0 10 100 1000 10,000
1.1 11 110 1100              
1.2 12 120 1200              
1.3 13 130 1300              
1.5 15 150 1500 0.015 0.15 1.5 15 150 1500  
1.6 16 160 1600              
1.8 18 180 1800              
2.0 20 200 2000              
2.2 22 220 2200 0.022 0.22 2.2 22 220 2200  
2.4 24 240 2400              
2.7 27 270 2700              
3.0 30 300 3000              
3.3 33 330 3300 0.033 0.33 3.3 33 330 3300  
3.6 36 360 3600              
3.9 39 390 3900              
4.3 43 430 4300              
4.7 47 470 4700 0.047 0.47 4.7 47 470 4700  
5.1 51 510 5100              
5.6 56 560 5600              
6.2 62 620 6200              
6.8 68 680 6800 0.068 0.68 6.8 68 680 6800  
7.5 75 750 7500              
8.2 82 820 8200              
9.1 91 910 9100              

 

Common Capacitor Working Voltages (DC), by Capacitor Type
Ceramic Electrolytic Tantalum Mylar

(Polyester)

Mylar

(Metal Film)

  10V 10V    
16V 16V 16V    
    20V    
25V 25V 25V    
  35V 35V    
50V 50V 50V 50V  
  63V      
100V 100V   100V  
  160V      
      200V  
  250V     250V
  350V      
      400V 400V
  450V      
600V        
        630V
1000V        

 

* A nimrod keeps contacting me to say there is no such thing as a real memristor.

 

Related Pages on RF Cafe

- Capacitors & Capacitance Calculations

- Capacitor Color Codes

- Capacitance Conversions

- Capacitor Dielectrics

- Standard Capacitor Values

- Capacitor Vendors

- The Noble Art of De-Coupling