Comparing values of capacitance in µF, nf and pf.

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By Mike Morris WA6ILQ

Background:

It's easy for others, but every time I try to convert capacitance values I always end up off by at least one factor of ten ! My high school electronics instructor, Mr. Andreano, wrote the first three columns on the chalkboard one day in 1965, and I copied it into my notebook. While I worked at NASA / JPL in the 1970s some of the equipment our shop maintained was sourced from Europe and Japan and in some cases the circuit board silk screening and the schematic diagrams used the 3-digit capacitor values. I pulled my notebook out of my file cabinet, added column four and created and kept this chart in my workbench notebook. Some of the other technicians (and one of the NASA design engineers!) asked for a copy. Happy to help!

Just print it, cut it out and post it over your workbench. End of problem !

microFarads nanoFarads picoFarads 3-digit
Markings Other Markings / Comments

0.000,001 µF 0.001 nF 1 pF Sometimes labeled with a centered "P", as in 3P3=3.3pF

0.000,01 µF 0.01 nF 10 pF 100

0.000,1 µF 0.1 nF 100 pF 101

0.001 µF 1 nF 1,000 pF 102 As above, a centered "N" indicates nanoFarads, as in 3N3=3.3nF=.0033µF=3300pF

0.01 µF 10 nF 10,000 pF 103

0.1 µF 100 nF 100,000 pF 104

1 µF 1,000 nF 1,000,000 pF 105 As above, a centered "U" indicates microFarads, as in 1U0=1.0µF.
Just insert a decimal point for the "U" and call it µF. Likewise 2U2=2.2 µF.

10 µF 10,000 nF 10,000,000 pF 106

100 µF 100,000 nF 100,000,000 pF 107

1,000 µF 1,000,000 nF 1,000,000,000 pF 108

microFarads	nanoFarads	picoFarads	3-digit Markings	Other Markings / Comments
0.000,001 µF	0.001 nF	1 pF		Sometimes labeled with a centered "P", as in 3P3=3.3pF
0.000,01 µF	0.01 nF	10 pF	100
0.000,1 µF	0.1 nF	100 pF	101
0.001 µF	1 nF	1,000 pF	102	As above, a centered "N" indicates nanoFarads, as in 3N3=3.3nF=.0033µF=3300pF
0.01 µF	10 nF	10,000 pF	103
0.1 µF	100 nF	100,000 pF	104
1 µF	1,000 nF	1,000,000 pF	105	As above, a centered "U" indicates microFarads, as in 1U0=1.0µF. Just insert a decimal point for the "U" and call it µF. Likewise 2U2=2.2 µF.
10 µF	10,000 nF	10,000,000 pF	106
100 µF	100,000 nF	100,000,000 pF	107
1,000 µF	1,000,000 nF	1,000,000,000 pF	108

This is all based on the fact that 1µF=1x10^-6 Farads, 1nF=1x10^-9 Farads and 1pF=1x10^-12 Farads.

Sometimes you will see parts labeled in a format similar to "3U3 63V". Those are most likely 3.3 microFarad capacitors with a voltage rating of 63 Volts.
As above, just insert a decimal point for the "U" and call it microFarads.

The same situation applies to some resistor designations. 3K3 would be 3.3 K Ohms, 2M2 would be 2.2 megohms, 5R6 would be 5.6 Ohms.

Contact Information:

The author can be contacted at Mike Morris WA6ILQ.

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This page originally posted on Tuesday 26-Dec-2007.

This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors. All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.