Trying to test a capacitor

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=32458
Printed Date: July 15, 2025 at 3:38 AM

Topic: Trying to test a capacitor

Posted By: Aschaffer
Subject: Trying to test a capacitor
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 4:24 PM

I have a DMM and I do not know how to use it that good other than some basic skills with it. Is there a way to test and see if my capacitor in my car is working properly using my dmm, and how?

Replies:

Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 4:53 PM

if the meter has a capacitance test scale you can... i know our Fluke meters here do.... you can also use a B&K cap tester

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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

Posted By: Aschaffer
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 5:50 PM

that doesnt help too much... Is there way to test it with my DMM though?

Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 20, 2004 at 5:53 PM

as i said...if YOUR DMM has this feature yes you can....... i dont know what kind of meter you have, only you do... so look at it and see if it is capable of testing capacitance.........

i know the Fluke DMM's we use here can do this on a limited scale........

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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

Posted By: mikedawg
Date Posted: June 06, 2004 at 11:24 AM

turn it to volts and put the black wire on the negative and the red one on the positive

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always looking for new info and willing to give it

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 06, 2004 at 11:32 AM

Aschaffer wrote:

I have a DMM and I do not know how to use it that good other than some basic skills with it. Is there a way to test and see if my capacitor in my car is working properly using my dmm, and how?

NO. As stated before, if your meter happens to have a capacitance scale (like a Fluke model 87) than you can test that the cap actually is built to the farad value it says it is. Or if you use the voltage scale, you can see if it is connected to the system. But to actually test the capacitor for proper function (meaning charge and discharge) NO, there is no safe way to do that with a DMM. Why do you think it needs to be tested?

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Posted By: xetmes
Date Posted: June 06, 2004 at 3:48 PM

you could get a large power resistor and use it to discharge the cap (after charging it), take voltage readings and compare them to the theoretical voltages...

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: June 08, 2004 at 1:39 AM

Hey guys, try to keep on track here with Aschaffer's question. I will take care of the remarks made from other member's.

Aschaffer wrote:

I have a DMM and I do not know how to use it that good other than some basic skills with it. Is there a way to test and see if my capacitor in my car is working properly using my dmm, and how?

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA