Electrolytic capacitors are often polarized, although some are specifically designed to be nonpolar.
Most electronic appliances have a capacitor or two. Even the simplest electronic function can benefit from a capacitor, simply to provide balanced power and signal. Capacitors are used for many other functions in electronic devices and can sometimes fail due to extensive use or inappropriate operation. Some are polarized, others are nonpolarized. Either way, you can quickly test to confirm proper function within a electronic circuit.
Instructions
1. Confirm the orientation of the suspect capacitor by identifying if it is polarized or not. Most polarized capacitors will be clearly marked with a "-" symbol and a guide as to which lead is negative.
2. Use the common test probe clip on the negative lead of the capacitor if the capacitor is polarized. If the capacitor is not polarized, it does not matter which lead the common test probe clip is attached to.
3. Connect the live test probe clip to the other lead of the capacitor and set the capacitance meter to the nearest rounded-up setting in comparison to what the capacitor is rated for. Turn on the capacitance meter.
4. Note the reading given by the capacitance meter. The capacitor will typically indicate somewhere on its packaging the tolerance within which it should stay. Most capacitors operate within 20 percent plus or minus of their listed rating.
5. Use the soldering iron to remove and replace the capacitor in the circuit if the reading is outside of the capacitor's tolerance.
Tags: capacitance meter, probe clip, test probe, test probe clip, capacitor polarized
