Capacitor Code Chart

Capacitor Color Codes for Identification Chart. Capacitors may be marked with 4 or more colored bands or dots. The colors encode the first and second most significant digits of the value, and the third color the decimal multiplier in picofarads. Additional bands have meanings which may vary from one type to another. The three-character code with the letter-number-letter format is used for capacitors with Class 2 and Class 3 dielectrics. C0G is a Class 1 dielectric, so it’s not included (more on this later). X5R and X7R are in Class 2, and Y5V is in Class 3. The first character indicates the lowest temperature that the capacitor can handle.

• Smd Capacitor Code Chart
• Smd Capacitor Code Chart
• Capacitor Color Code Chart

Capacitor uF - nF - pF Conversion Chart

To use this table, just read across. For example, 1uF is same 1,000nF or 1,000,000pF.

When reading schematics, repairing radios and buying capacitors, you often must convert between uF, nF and pF.
Paper and electrolytic capacitors are usually expressed in terms of uF (microfarads). Short forms for micro farad include
uF, mfd, MFD, MF and UF. Mica capacitors are usually expressed in terms of pF (micromicrofarads) (picofarads).
Short forms for micromicrofarads include pF, mmfd, MMFD, MMF, uuF and PF. A pF is one-millionth of a uF. In
between a pF and a uF is a nF which is one-one thousands of a uF. Converting back and forth between uF, nF
and pF can be confusing with all those darn decimal points to worry about. Below is a uF - nF- pF conversion chart.
Just print a copy and tape it to your workbench....it will come in handy. Have fun MAKEING

Usually the first two digits of the code represent part of the value; the third digit corresponds to the number of zeros to be added to the first two digits. This is the value in pf.

General Capacitance Code breaker Charts

A common question when looking at ceramic capacitors is what do the temperature coefficient numbers/letters mean? These numbers will generally break down to a temperature range and the variation in capacitance over that specific range. The first thing you need to understand with what standard and class you are looking at. These are split between the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)

Smd Capacitor Code Chart

Here is a chart on the different classes and definitions:

With class definitions understood you can look how the temperature coefficients break down.

Class 1 per EIA-RS-198

Class 1 per IEC/EN 60384-8/21 and EIA-RS-198

Looking at these charts you see, an “NP0” capacitor with EIA code “C0G” will have 0 drift, with a tolerance of ±30 ppm/K, while an “N1500” with the code “P3K” will have −1500 ppm/K drift, with a maximum tolerance of ±250 ppm/°C.

Note that the IEC and EIA capacitor codes are industry capacitor codes and not the same as military capacitor codes.

Class 2 per EIA RS-198

For instance, a Z5U capacitor will operate from +10 °C to +85 °C with a capacitance change of at most +22% to −56%. An X7R capacitor will operate from −55 °C to +125 °C with a capacitance change of at most ±15%.

Here are some common Class 2 configurations:

Smd Capacitor Code Chart

• X8R (−55/+150, ΔC/C0 = ±15%),
• X7R (−55/+125 °C, ΔC/C0 = ±15%),
• X6R (−55/+105 °C, ΔC/C0 = ±15%),
• X5R (−55/+85 °C, ΔC/C0 = ±15%),
• X7S (−55/+125, ΔC/C0 = ±22%),
• Z5U (+10/+85 °C, ΔC/C0 = +22/−56%),
• Y5V (−30/+85 °C, ΔC/C0 = +22/−82%),

Class 2 per IEC/EN 60384-9/22

Capacitor Color Code Chart

In some cases it is possible to translate the EIA code into the IEC/EN code. Slight variations can occur, but normally are tolerable.

• X7R correlates with 2X1
• Z5U correlates with 2E6
• Y5V similar to 2F4, aberration: ΔC/C0 = +30/−80% instead of +30/−82%
• X7S similar to 2C1, aberration: ΔC/C0 = ±20% instead of ±22%
• X8R no IEC/EN code available