Ceramic Capacitor Code

CERAMIC CAPACITOR CODES

Learning the basic of ceramic capacitors using their numeric or color coding.
Capacitance is measured in farads, The Farad is basically the amount of charge capacity that a capacitor can hold. The capacitor is getting smaller and the smaller the part gets, the less information you get, this is the reason ceramic has its own codes. By following the procedures below, you can read a capacitor.

CERAMIC CAPACITOR CODES

Ceramic Capacitor may have 3 or 4 numbers at its body. Last number is multiplier. The number tells how much =zeros= contains multiplied number. Numbers before are value in pF.

MULTIPLIER TABLE (CERAMIC)

Number
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

Multiply Additional # of Zeros)
None (0)
10 (1)
100 (2)
1,000 (3)
10,000 (4)
100,000 (5)
1,000,000 (6)

Example 1: At a capacitor’s body is number 102. Itmeans 10-pF multiply to 100 (last number tells us about 2 =zeros=). So, 1000-pF.
Example 2. At a capacitor’s body is number 101. Itmeans 10- pF multiply to 10 (last number tells us about 1 =zero=). So, 100-pF.
Example 3: At a capacitor’s body is number 103. Itmeans 10-pF multiply to 1000 (last number tells us about 3 =zeros=). So, 10000-pF.
Capacitor that has value in pF may be marked straight away in pF. A letter =p= shows the value.
Example 4: At a capacitor’s body is number 5p6. Itmeans 5.6-pF.
Example 5: At a capacitor’s body is number 10p. Itmeans 10-pF.
Sometimes, capacitance is marked in 1000-pF. Letter =n= tells about it.
Example 6: At a capacitor’s body is number 2n2. Itmeans 2200-pF.
Example 7: At a capacitor’s body is number 10n. Itmeans 10000-pF.
Capacitance may be marked in µF. At the case only numbers with point can be found at the body.
Example 7: At a capacitor’s body is number = .1=. Itmeans 0.1- µF.
Example 8: At a capacitor’s body is number = 3.3=. Itmeans 3.3- µF.
As usual, after numbers follows a letter. The letter may be located under numbers. The letter tells us about tolerance.Table 1shows the tolerance code.
Example 9: At a capacitor’s body is number 103N. Itmeans 10-pF multiply to 1000 (last number tells us about 3 =zeros=). So, 10000-pF +- 30%.
Example 10: At a capacitor’s body is number 2p2B. Itmeans 2.2-pF +- 0.1-pF.
Some capacitors may have mark of Temperature Coefficient which is marked by different color at cap of the capacitor.
Temperature Coefficient.
Example 11: At a capacitor’s body is number 101.Cap is red. It means 100-pF N080.

COMMON TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT CODES (CERAMIC)

Code

C
J
K
M
D
Z

Tolerance

±0.25pF
±5%
±10%
±20%
±0.5pF
+80% / -20%

COMMON TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT CHARACTERISTICS

Temperature Coefficient

Y5E
Y5F
Y5P
Y5U
Y5V
Z5U
Z5V

Operating Temp Range

-30°C ~ +85°C
-30°C ~ +85°C
-30°C ~ +85°C
-30°C ~ +85°C
-30°C ~ +85°C
+10°C ~ +85°C
+10°C ~ +85°C

Capacitance Change

± 4.7%
±7.5%
± 10%
+22% / -56%
+22% / -82%
+22% / -56%
+22% / -82%

Minimum Cap Tolerance

±10%
±20%
±10%
±20%
±20%
±20%
+80% / -20%

APPLICATION NOTES (CERAMIC)

NPO: Has a very low dissipation factor and are very stable over wide variations in temperature, frequency, voltage, and time. NPO type capacitors are frequently used for precision timing, filtering, frequency setting, and tuning circuits.
X7R: Are used when some capacitance variation is allowed and the dissipation factor is not critical. X7R type capacitors are frequently used for bypass, decoupling, filtering, frequency discrimination, timing, DC voltage blocking, voltage transient suppression, instrumentation, computers, telecommunications, and automotive electronics.
Z5U: Dielectrics have the highest capacitance for their size. Z5U type capacitors have applications in bypass, decoupling, transient suppression, computers, and telecommunications.

COMMON CAPACITOR WORKING VOLTAGES (DC) BY CAPACITOR TYPE

Ceramic

16V
25V
50V
100V
600V
1000V

Electrolytic

10V
16V
25V
35V
50V
63V
100V
160V
250V
350V
450V

Tantalum

10V
16V
20V
25V
35V
50V

Mylar Polyester
50V
100V
200V
400V

Mylar Metal

250V
400V
630V

Working
Voltage

Ceramic
Electrolytic
Tantalum
Mylar Polyester
Mylar Metal