Experiment # 2: Capacitors and Capacitance

(Open and short circuited capacitors) Commented [wa1]:

Short-Circuited Capacitors:

OBJECTIVE In normal service, capacitors can become short-circuited

because the dielectric deteriorates with age, usually over a
period of years under the stress of charging voltage,
1. Ground / short test of a capacitor. especially at higher temperatures. This effect is more
2. Capacitance rating in mfds. common with paper and electrolytic capacitors. The
capacitor may become leaky gradually, indicating a partial
short circuit, or the dielectric may be punctured, causing a
short circuit.
APPARATUS
Open Capacitors:

1. Capacitor analyzer. In addition to the possibility of an open connection in any

2. Capacitor to be checked. type of capacitor, electrolytics develop high resistance in the
electrolyte with age, particularly at high temperatures. After
3. Testing leads. service of a few years, if the electrolyte dries up, the
4. Step-down Transformer capacitor will be partially open. Much of the capacitor action
is gone, and the capacitor should be replaced.

PROCEDURE

a) Connect the main leads of the analyzer to 110 v AC supply. Power may be checked by flashing
on the pilot light. Connect the capacitor terminals to the input jacks of the analyzer with the
help of testing leads. Place the selector switch of the analyzer (which is initially at center) to
its left position and watch the light.
b) If it dose not flash, the capacitor is open. If it flashes brightly and dims down after a few
seconds, the capacitor is ok and is being charged. If the capacitor is open / short it should be
discarded immediately without carrying further tests.
c) Now we shall check the capacitance of a charged capacitor. For this select the appropriate scale
and place the selector switch to the right most position and note the mfds. Now compare the
noted value with the rated one and if the noted is 20% less than the rated one, discard the
capacitor.
Commented [wa2]: Capacitance is the ability of a
dielectric to hold or store an electric charge.
The more charge stored for a given voltage, the higher the
capacitance. Capacitors are a common source of troubles
because they can have either an open at the conductors or a
short circuit through the dielectric.
The result is a device for storing charge in the dielectric.
Storage means that the charge remains even after the voltage
source is disconnected. The measure of how much charge
can be stored is the capacitance C. More charge stored for a
given amount of applied voltage means more capacitance
’ When one coulomb is stored in the dielectric with a
potential difference of one volt, the capacitance is one farad.’

GENERAL QUESTIONS Commented [wa3R2]: Dielectric types are air, ceramic,

mica, paper, film, and electrolytic capacitors.

Explain difference between starting and running capacitor. Commented [wa4]: Thinner Dielectric Increases
Capacitance:
What will be the result? The field between opposite plates can store more charge in
the dielectric. With less distance between the plates, the
a) If the area of the dielectric is increased. stored charge is greater for the same applied voltage, which
means that the capacitance is greater.
b) If the area of the plates is increased.
c) If the two capacitors are connected in parallel / series. Commented [wa5]: A larger plate area means that more of
the dielectric surface can contact each plate, allowing more
lines of force through the dielectric between the plates and
less flux leakage outside the dielectric. Then the field can
store more charge in the dielectric.
The result of larger plate area is more charge stored for the
same applied voltage, which means that the capacitance is
larger.