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Re: [TCML] Measuring capacitance



Brandon,

You can calculate the effective capacitance of series/parallel arrangements mathematically. Capacitors connected in parallel are simply additive. Caps in series combine as the sum of their inverse values, just like resistors connected in parallel. The voltage rating of a set of parallel caps is only equal to that of the lowest rated capacitor. If you series equally valued caps (same voltage and capacitance), the total voltage rating for the string is equal to the sum of ratings of the individual caps. If you series unequal valued caps, then the voltage rating calculation gets rather complex (something to be avoided). Before you start building high voltage equipment, you would do well to get some basic theory under your belt.

Many high end digital meters include a capacitance measuring function. You can also buy specific cap meters for not a lot. However, these are mostly useful for testing that a cap is actually exhibiting its stated value. Note, however, that in high voltage use, a cap may seem to have proper values when tested with a meter, but fail when subjected to high voltage.
Dave

Brandon Hendershot wrote:
I'm looking to make a new tank cap this Christmas and I'd like some help from a meter to measure the farad rating to aid wiring the in a mixture of series and parallel. The only thing I can think of that would measure farads is an ohmmeter. Do they make a farad meter? If not, how do you convert ohms to farads?
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