National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: admin on July 28, 2013, 02:53:07 PM

Title: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: admin on July 28, 2013, 02:53:07 PM
Anyone got one? I have a few 1000 and 2200 uF caps that I need to test.

TIA.
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 28, 2013, 05:25:07 PM
How do you know if your multimeter can test capacitors? I have one here.
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: Rats on July 28, 2013, 07:54:55 PM
Quote from: deadman1972 on July 28, 2013, 05:25:07 PM
How do you know if your multimeter can test capacitors? I have one here.
They normally have a sign or it will show (uF)
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: johnrm on July 28, 2013, 07:57:26 PM
Any multimeter with resistance (ohms) am voltage can be used to test operation...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDuN7QHn1-s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 28, 2013, 11:16:00 PM
Sorry Tube just checked and the one i have does not do what you want, has the resistance thing allright and continuity but not capacitor sorry ;)
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: johnrm on July 28, 2013, 11:37:21 PM
Why would you think it's outside spec?
They either work or they don't.
They're cheap, buy more.
Radionics.
Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: JD on July 29, 2013, 09:44:53 AM
Hi Tube,
Testing capacitors in-situ is not going to be useful. There's even a risk that the voltage emitted by the multimeter could damage the ICs the cap is connected to (although that would be low risk).

The only way a multimeter can test a cap is if it is isolated from the circuit. You will need to desolder at least one lead of the capacitor to test it.

Title: Re: Multimeter that can test Capacitors?
Post by: JD on July 29, 2013, 11:32:48 AM
Might be helpful, if you're up for a bit of building...

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Testing_caps.html (http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Testing_caps.html)