Definitive Capacitor Identification Chart (w pictures)? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 10:30:46 pm
content: I've been looking for a definitive capacitor type identification chart for weeks now that includes visuals and have not found one that covers all of the ones I have or have seen. It seems even the most extensive ones I've found on the internet are often missing the ones I have.Does anyone know where one exists and better still one that includes not only the visual identification, but how to read the values?Thanks.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 11:58:59 pm
content: I've never seen something like that, and doubt that it exists.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 12:07:44 am
content: Quote from: Benta on January 10, 2017, 11:58:59 pmI've seen partial charts, partial lists, galleries of images for types. But they have all been bits and pieces and not the big picture.So I'd not be surprised if there was one and tbh more surprised there isn't one.Potentially a good project to crowd source here on the EEVBlog. People could upload images and we could help identify them, building up charts as we go?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 12:16:29 am
content: There's a handy little chart in the Jaycar catalogue but ATM my internet is so slow it would take a age to download it and snip it out for you.https://www.jaycar.co.nz/catalogueThey used to give a card chart away as a handout at the counter that had 4 and 5 band resistors, a capacitance chart and LED resistor calcs and I'm pretty sure you can snip them all from the catalogue.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 12:20:32 am
content: Quote from: tautech on January 11, 2017, 12:16:29 amI just had a quick look at the image of the one in that catalogue on page 7. It's nowhere near extensive enough. It doesn't show the physical images of each capacitor type and the codes for each type. Thanks though.

author: Vtile
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 09:42:05 pm
content: Quote from: ziplock9000 on January 11, 2017, 12:20:32 amCompose a such chart and share with the community. I'm sure you will get plenty of help for such project from here if you get stuckt.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 10:38:27 pm
content: Quote from: Vtile on January 14, 2017, 09:42:05 pmThanks for reminding me to look further into this.A few minutes Googling find this image that's probably a good starting point for such a project:Another for old Mica caps that are rarely seen today:And this one for simple unit conversion:BTW, I've grabbed the first pic and started overlaying some text in it. It's a 22Mb jpg so will need some editing before it's suitable for up and downloads. There's a couple of obscure ones I don't know but when it's finished others will let us know what they are and it'll be easy to fill in the missing/unknown ones and upload again

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 09:57:13 am
content: Put the high res 22M image on Tin's Xdevs site, and link it here, plus put a 1M lower resolution imge in the forum as backup. That way the high res images are available for those that want them, while the low res one is fine for those who do not.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 10:42:05 pm
content: Quote from: Vtile on January 14, 2017, 09:42:05 pmYeah I proposed doing this in Reply #2. Hopefully I can get around to it on here at some point.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 09:59:48 am
content: Some small start that will need some input and corrections.1. Dipped MLCC ??2. Dipped HV cap, sometimes Y rated3. Ceranic disc4. Ceramic cap dipped5. Tantalum ?6. Solid Tantalum7. Tantalum ?8. Film cap X2 rated9. Film cap X2 end view10. Film cap11. Film cap polarised12. MLCC SMD13. Varicaps ?14. Tantalum bead15. Aluminum Electrolytic, polarised16. Supercap17. Tantalum SMD18. Aluminum Electrolytic SMD, polarised19. Aluminum Electrolytic, Non-polarised20.Corrections and additions welcomed.By all means grab the txt file below and edit and place it back with a reply.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 10:03:21 am
content: Thank's mate. I'll start recording this. Maybe in some sort of public wiki rather than something like a public Google Docs.Does EEVblog have a wiki by any chance?

author: bktemp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 10:05:23 am
content: 4 is probably a MLCC5 is a foil capacitor made bei WIMA (probably FKS series)6 is also a foil capacitor, but without the additional protective case (only thin film of lacquer)11 there are also similar looking electrolytic capacitors, so it is hard to tell. (>10uF it is probably electrolytic, <1uF is foil capacitor). This one has 3.9nF, so it is a foil capacitor.12 the large WIMA one is a foil capacitor:http://www.wima.com/EN/tpl_products_smd_overview.htmThere are also similar looking ones like nr 6 but SMD.13 is a feed through capacitor20 could be a supercap or a battery or something in between

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 10:10:57 am
content: Quote from: ziplock9000 on January 18, 2017, 10:03:21 amIt's in no way ready for such tributes if any.When I first put the image up, it was straight from the source where I found it, so if you Quote it the URL becomes visible and anybody then can grab it and have a go themselves.Daves Wiki is on his main EEVblog site.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 10:13:46 am
content: Quote from: bktemp on January 18, 2017, 10:05:23 amYep, I got a few nearly right and I think it best to leave some corrections come in for a day or so and then we can all have a goodover which we call what.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 11:14:40 am
content: Well I've created the Wiki and added the first set of images.If someone could start populating the names that have been suggested so far please?Just an FYI, please don't remove suggestions from other people just yet unless you're an expert as we are still crowdsourcing this.http://electronicsreference.wikia.com/wiki/CapacitorsThere's prolly a lot more we can do in the future with this wiki too.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 11:28:34 pm
content: I started taking pictures of a couple of the common types that I have which are not yet in the photo and realized a few things.1. I am going to have to do quite a bit of photo set up to get decent pictures. Maybe even a microscope.2. A scale will be useful for identification, particularly for those who don't know already what the type is.3. Much of the critical information is not in the color or shape. The ceramic type for example. Not sure how best to flag this in an identification chart. Maybe an inset for the generic type with the inset focused on identification of the variations. Same thing could apply to electrolytic types.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 11:54:04 pm
content: I've actually been working on something like this. Basically a A3 size component reference chart with pictures of different types of common passives, showing what they are and how to read off the codes (if they have any).I'd be happy to post it here and then add to it as people send me high quality photos of new types.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 11:58:25 pm
content: 1 is a silver-mica.4 is an mlcc ( essentially a 0603, with leads welded on and dipped in epoxy)5 6 ad 7 are film caps. The red one is a wima. The silver one is siemens and the black one probably a sprague. These can be different types of films. Polyester, polyethylene, polysulphone,10 and 11 are film caps. Polysterene or polyester. These are NOT polarised !. The stripe indicates the terminal connected to the outer electrode. That should be connected to the lowest impedance node. That way the outer electrode 'shields' the weak driving node.13 are feed-trhru capacitors.There are many missing. Solid tantalums, solid aluminums, sibatits, to name a few.And when to comes to mlcc.... class 1 , class 2 class 3. Etc ..Same for those smd electrolytics. They could be oscons , sold electrolyte , vibration resistant ( those have thicker plastic shims that grasp the indentation in the body. Often they also have helper electrodes..

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:32:14 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on January 18, 2017, 11:28:34 pmAt the moment just capturing all of that is the most important part, dissecting and classifying the data can some at a later point.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:33:36 am
content: Quote from: timb on January 18, 2017, 11:54:04 pmIf you could add them to the wiki I've setup it would be better. A forum might be good to collect data, but nowhere near as good as a wiki for displaying it.http://electronicsreference.wikia.com/wiki/Capacitors

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:39:44 am
content: Cool project! I'm gonna follow this

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:42:51 am
content: Ok, I've added everyone's suggestions thus far to the wiki. I'm going to do some hi-res DSL photography of my own now and add them to the wiki.If possible, instead of putting suggestions here, can you guys and gals add them directly to the wiki instead? Less copy and paste for me. ThanksI'll also be adding more columns to the table as they become obvious, like "polarized" and SMD etc:D

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:47:25 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on January 18, 2017, 11:58:25 pmI'm sure I've seen solid Tantalums like that too, they weigh like lead in your hand.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:50:07 am
content: What's next?The definitive transistor identification chart,the definitive ___________ identification chart?

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:52:30 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on January 19, 2017, 02:50:07 amWhy not?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 04:36:03 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on January 19, 2017, 02:50:07 amThe definitive pantone 768 red, pvc from dupont type r97-3j, insulated, 0.3mm wall with 2% tolerance , thermoplastic ,onyx-chemicals type plu-5-d pantone 907 white ink 9 dot matrix printed legend, ul listed, 105 degree c , stranded 98% oxygen free copper , 12 strands , twisted on a 1 inch turnlength , on 500 m rolls from belkin produced on 27 february 2001 at 19:47pm from factory nine , lot 5007 and handled by operatur yu-chen with 204 meters remaining on the roll ... wire guide ... ( i have one reel of that )

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 09:24:29 am
content: I've added some more higher resolution images to the wiki that need identification.

author: bktemp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 11:08:13 am
content: Having so many similar images (all the blue/brown/reddish capacitors) probably doesn't help much. They are all film capacitors, but the exact construction and material is often impossible to identify without having the datasheet.Sometimes there is some text on the capacitors like PP. MPP, or MKP. Then it uses most likely polypropylene film for reduced losses, otherwise it is probably polyester film.Also there are many types of electrolytic capacitors. If you can identify the manufacturer you may be able to find a datasheet, otherweise you often only know it is an electrolytic capacitor with xxV and yyuF, but you can't say if it is a low ESR, a general purpose one or some more specialised type unless you know exactly the circuit where it came from and have enough experience to tell what type of electrolytic capacitor is needed for the specific application.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 12:01:48 pm
content: Quote from: bktemp on January 19, 2017, 11:08:13 amAny chance you could add that information to the wiki as I'm not sure which you're referring to. Thanks.

author: bktemp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 01:08:57 pm
content: I have added text to most of the capacitors.All pictures of film capacitors above the MPP polypropylene one are very similar. I doubt all of them are needed, because they all have the same colour and shape and no other unique features.Instead of adding more and more pictures, it would be better to arrange them in groups and add some more information on how to distinguish between the capacitor types.

author: ziplock9000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 02:28:43 pm
content: Quote from: bktemp on January 19, 2017, 01:08:57 pmThanks, your help is appreciated. Ultimately that's what will happen once we know some are the same.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2017, 05:20:59 am
content: Added a couple more.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2017, 09:12:20 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on January 19, 2017, 02:50:07 amSure why not, resistors, op amps, (add your own)...However, Ziplock, this is a huge undertaking, but I think it is a great idea and needs doing. Learn a treasure as you go as well.This what the internet is for...PEACE===>T

author: Vtile
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2017, 09:24:29 pm
content: Here is one a bit more exotic for these days. It is "SuperElectric" (must be manufacturers brandname) 10000pF = 10nF and 2000Vdc Trolitul capacitor from somewhere WW2 era +-10 years propably. This is not paper or wax condensator, but a polystyrene.TROLITULn. Poly(styrene), manufactured by Dynamit Nobel, Germany.http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-0-387-30160-0_11940I I don't know how these ages, the typical min/max frequenzy limits given for polystyrene by Electronics Engineer's Reference Book (through google books) is given DC up to 10 GHz (10000 MHz).

author: Pedro26
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 10:58:48 am
content: Does the Wiki still exist? I used to have printed copies of the catalogues for RS components, Farnells, CPC, and Maplins, and with them I could identify most capacitors I came across, often their manufacturer too. Unfortunately, these ‘disappeared’ following a house move, a big loss when dealing with legacy electronics.