How to Test a Capacitor using Digital and Analog Multimeter – 8 Methods

Testing a capacitor using a digital multimeter in resistance mode involves the following steps:

1. Turn off the power supply: Before starting the test, make sure to turn off the power supply to the circuit where the capacitor is installed.

2. Discharge the capacitor: To discharge the capacitor, short-circuit the two leads of the capacitor using a wire or a resistor. This is important to prevent any electrical shock or damage to the digital multimeter.

3. Select the resistance mode: Set the digital multimeter to the resistance mode, often denoted by the symbol Ω.

4. Connect the multimeter probes: Connect the multimeter probes to the leads of the capacitor. The red probe should be connected to the positive lead, and the black probe should be connected to the negative lead.

5. Read the resistance value: After connecting the probes to the leads of the capacitor, read the resistance value displayed on the digital multimeter. The value displayed should start from infinity and gradually decrease to a lower value before stabilizing.

6. Interpret the reading: The resistance reading indicates the state of the capacitor. A capacitor that is functioning properly should read close to zero ohms. If the resistance reading remains at infinity or is significantly higher than the expected range, the capacitor may be faulty or damaged.

7. Repeat the test: To ensure accuracy, repeat the test multiple times using different multimeter probes or a different digital multimeter.

It's important to note that testing a capacitor using a digital multimeter in resistance mode only gives an approximate reading of the capacitor's health. For a more accurate measurement, it's recommended to use an ESR meter or a capacitance meter.

Checking a capacitor using a multimeter in the capacitance mode involves the following steps:

1. Turn off the power supply: Before starting the test, make sure to turn off the power supply to the circuit where the capacitor is installed.

2. Discharge the capacitor: To discharge the capacitor, short-circuit the two leads of the capacitor using a wire or a resistor. This is important to prevent any electrical shock or damage to the multimeter.

3. Select the capacitance mode: Set the multimeter to the capacitance mode, often denoted by the symbol "F" or "μF".

4. Connect the multimeter probes: Connect the multimeter probes to the leads of the capacitor. The red probe should be connected to the positive lead, and the black probe should be connected to the negative lead.

5. Read the capacitance value: After connecting the probes to the leads of the capacitor, read the capacitance value displayed on the multimeter. The value displayed should be close to the rated capacitance of the capacitor.

6. Interpret the reading: The capacitance reading indicates the state of the capacitor. A capacitor that is functioning properly should read close to its rated capacitance. If the capacitance reading is significantly lower than the expected range, the capacitor may be faulty or damaged.

7. Repeat the test: To ensure accuracy, repeat the test multiple times using different multimeter probes or a different multimeter.

It's important to note that testing a capacitor using a multimeter in capacitance mode only gives an approximate reading of the capacitor's health. For a more accurate measurement, it's recommended to use a dedicated capacitance meter.

Checking a capacitor using a multimeter in the volt mode involves the following steps:

1. Turn off the power supply: Before starting the test, make sure to turn off the power supply to the circuit where the capacitor is installed.

2. Discharge the capacitor: To discharge the capacitor, short-circuit the two leads of the capacitor using a wire or a resistor. This is important to prevent any electrical shock or damage to the multimeter.

3. Select the volt mode: Set the multimeter to the volt mode, often denoted by the symbol "V" or "mV".

4. Connect the multimeter probes: Connect the multimeter probes to the leads of the capacitor. The red probe should be connected to the positive lead, and the black probe should be connected to the negative lead.

5. Apply voltage to the capacitor: Apply a small DC voltage to the capacitor by connecting a battery or a power supply to the capacitor. The voltage should be lower than the rated voltage of the capacitor.

6. Measure the voltage across the capacitor: After applying voltage to the capacitor, measure the voltage across the capacitor by placing the multimeter probes across the capacitor leads. The voltage reading should gradually increase until it reaches the applied voltage.

7. Interpret the reading: The voltage reading indicates the state of the capacitor. A capacitor that is functioning properly should reach the applied voltage and then hold the voltage for a short period of time before slowly discharging. If the voltage reading does not reach the applied voltage or discharges too quickly, the capacitor may be faulty or damaged.

8. Repeat the test: To ensure accuracy, repeat the test multiple times using different multimeter probes or a different multimeter.

It's important to note that testing a capacitor using a multimeter in the volt mode only gives an approximate reading of the capacitor's health. For a more accurate measurement, it's recommended to use an oscilloscope or a dedicated capacitance meter.