LCR40 User Guide
November 2021 – Rev 7
Page 8
Testing Capacitors
The
LCR40
uses two different methods to analyse capacitors, AC impedance
analysis for low value capacitors (less than about 1μF) and DC charge analysis
for larger capacitors (about 1μF to 10,000μF).
Capacitors (particularly electrolytics) can store enough charge that
may cause damage to the
LCR40
.
An electrolytic capacitor can even develop its own stored charge that may
be sufficient to cause damage to the
LCR40
even after it has been
temporarily discharged. This is a characteristic known as dielectric
absorption or “Soakage”.
It is vitally important that you ensure the capacitor is fully discharged
(ideally for several seconds) to minimise the possibility of damage to the
unit.
If you are unsure, measure the voltage across the capacitor using a
suitable volt meter before applying the capacitor to the
LCR40
.
The unit will automatically identify the type of capacitor being tested and
apply the most appropriate test method.
The capacitance will always be displayed in the most suitable units. To
convert between the various units, refer to the following table:
pF
(pico-Farads)
nF
(nano-Farads)
µF
(micro-Farads)
1
0.001
0.000001
1000
1
0.001
1000 000
1000
1
1000 000 000
1000 000
1000