Capacitance measures a component's ability to store charge. The farad is very large — most capacitors are in µF, nF, or pF range.
What Is Capacitance?
C = Q ÷ V. A capacitor stores energy in an electric field. Used for filtering, timing, and energy storage.
Units
- 1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF
- 1 nF = 1,000 pF
Power filters: 100–10,000 µF. Audio: 0.1–10 µF. RF: 1–1,000 pF.
Reading Capacitor Codes
3-digit code: first two digits + multiplier in pF. "104" = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF — one of the most common values.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert µF to pF?
Multiply by 1,000,000. 0.1 µF = 100,000 pF.
What does "104" mean on a capacitor?
10 × 10⁴ pF = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.