HOW TO TEST CAPACITOR
CAPACITOR TESTING. This article will explain both capacitor testing using digital multimeter and analog mulimeter.
Step to test capacitor with digital multimeter
1. Remove power from circuit by switching equipment off / unplug. the capacitor under test must no voltage present.2. Discharge capacitor before testing , failture to do this will case damage to meter and electric shock.
Researching how to discharge capacitor is essential too.
3. Don't touch metal tip of test leads during testing.
4. Insert black test lead to COM- jack and red test lead to VΩ jack.
5. Turn rotary switch to capacitor range / capacitor test function. The display will present capacitor symbol.
6. Connect the test lead to capacitor under test terminals.
7. The display will present some capacitor value.
Good capacitor will show value as printed on its body ( the closest value is still good capacitor ).
Bad capacitor ( degrade ) show capacitance value much lower from it original value.
Bad capacitor ( open ) will not show any capacitance value.
Bad capacitor ( short ) will not show any capacitance value or show " OL"
Step to test capacitor with Analog multimeter.
1. Remove power from circuit by switching equipment off / unplug. The capacitor under test must no voltage present.
2. Discharge capacitor before testing , failure to do this will cause damage to meter and electric shock.
3. Don't touch metal tip of test leads during testing.
4. Insert black test lead to COM- jack and red test lead to P + jack.
5. Turn rotary switch to resistance range / resistance test Function.
Capacitance value around 10uF use Rx1K range.
Capacitance value around 47uF use Rx100 range.
Capacitor value around 470uF - 2200uF use Rx10 range.
Capacitor value around 2200uF up use Rx1 range.
6. Test 2 time , connect test leads to capacitor terminals and switch test leads and do testing again. The meter will present result as below.
Good capacitor , the pointer will move forwarding to 0 ohm side then move backward to ∞ .
Bad capacitor (open) , the pointer does not present any movement.
Bad capacitor (short ) , the pointer move forward to 0 ohm side and keep position around 0 ohm.
Bad capacitor ( leak ) , the pointer will move forward to 0 ohm side then move backward to ∞ but it does not reach ∞ position. ( The pointer still point at some resistance , not at ∞ position as a good capacitor ).
Test capacitor with Analog multimeter , 220uF use Rx100 range.
