Page 89 - Testing Electronic Components
P. 89
Understanding Capacitors
Capacitor, also known as condenser, is one of the most essential
components in designing an electronic circuit. Radio, television and
monitor circuits use a number of capacitors. Capacitor has a tendency to
store electrical charge and then release it as current in the circuit where it
is connected. So the use of capacitor is to store and then release electrical
charge. This concept may sound simple enough, but it has important
applications when the capacitor is combined with other components in
filter or timing circuits. Capacitor is symbolized as shown in below and it
is denoted by a letter C.
Symbol of a capacitor
Electrolytic Capacitor
Unit of capacitance.
Capacitance is measure in farads (F). Practically farad is a large unit. The
smaller units are microfarads, nanofarads and picofarads.
1 microfarad = 1/1,000,000 farad
1 nanofarad = 1/1,000,000,000 farad
1 picofarad = 1/1,000,000,000,000 farad
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