How to test a Ceramic Capacitor?

you can test for shorts or leakage with a standard VOM or DMM and then check for proper capacitance value with a cap meter or DMM with capacitance feature.

-- Best Regards, Daniel Sofie Electronics Supply & Repair

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" snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com" bravely wrote to "All" (12 Sep 05 08:36:24) --- on the heady topic of "How to test a Ceramic Capacitor?"

mi> From: snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com mi> Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:341943

mi> hello, mi> I heard that Ceramic Capacitors rarely fail nevertheless how can one mi> be sure? Is there a way to test them to know if they are good? Is it mi> important to test these or not? Any help would be appreciated!

Ceramics can be checked for power factor and compared to the typical rated specification of the equivalent new part. However, usually all that is needed is a scope, since an abnormal signal is often a clue that the cap is not working right. They don't often fail except in high energy circuits but then they are also less used in these because of their many disadvantages.

In general, ceramic capacitors, and other types, have losses that increase with frequency. They behave as if they have a little bit of series resistance and thus get hot. As you know heat is the enemy of all components, because it often increases leakage curents and can turn them into charcoal. Also when components heat and cool cyclically there is a mechanical expansion and contraction that results in material fatigue such that internal breaks can develop.

A*s*i*m*o*v

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"Asimov" wrote in news:MSGID_1=3a167=2f133.0 snipped-for-privacy@fidonet.org:

I used to run them up on a TEK curve tracer,either a 576 or the 7K 7CT1N I had in my bench scope.(I loved that little plug-in,it was SO useful). They form a loop and if there's breakdown,the loop closes,it shows intermittents and temp sensitivity,too.You can compare to a new cap,too. I used the CT on caps from 0.1uf dip caps to HV caps.