3 Ways to Check Capacitors in Circuit with Meters & Testers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- Learn How to check bad Capacitors in circuit boards with ESR and Fluke multimeter, ESR meter reading is ohms and Fluke capacitor reads microfarads uf mf of a cap, see below for "capacitor meters"
Fluke multimeter 115 - amzn.to/2hIgCub
MESR-100 V2 Auto Ranging in-Circuit ESR METER- amzn.to/2hRgTyl
Warning: Use this information at your own risk
When working on electronics always follow safety codes, beyond the control of Tampatec, I don't guarantee results due to improper use of this information. Tampatec assumes no liability for damage or injury incurred as a result of this information in this video. see here for safe electrical practices- www.esfi.org/el...
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Cheers for the Video clip! Forgive me for the intrusion, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you thought about - Saankramer Electronic Magazine System (should be on google have a look)? It is a smashing one off guide for learning how to repair electronic items like a wizard without the normal expense. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my work buddy after a lifetime of fighting got cool results with it.
hey ,if anyone else trying to find out
industrial electronic repair
try Saankramer Electronic Magazine System (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate got amazing results with it.
So if you have 5volt standby testing good but 12volt only reading .023 or .016 but no reading on the other end of the wire what needs to be tested next
What did you say in the end? Should be 150 uF but was 890 uF was that a good capacitor or not?
marko marinkovic {{
After watching your TH-cam vid I had enough confidence to try and repair a Phillips TV that had sound but no picture. I replaced three capacitors that looked bulged for 99 cents each. Works great now. Many thanks.
One of the best, if not THE BEST display of ESR tester measuring resistance of capacitors while they are soldered on circuit board. Can't stand the other YT channels skipping out on displaying this innovative function and it's accuracy.
I recently replaced our TV because of continual malfunction and disassembled the old one. While watching this video I visually checked the circuit boards and found a 100 volt 3300 micro farad capacitor with a swollen top. A month ago I paid an HVAC company for repairs to our air conditioning which turned out to be replacing a capacitor. I could have saved a lot of money if I'd seen this video earlier.
I love your videos. In 1961, when I was five, I used to test the tubes for my Dad. The tester looked like a hospital medical unit, 4'x 3'x 3'. It was his pride and joy!
Fluke 100, I have had mine for 30 years and still kicking butt, Great video bro...!
FINALLY a video that explains all of this in easy-to-understand terms for people who don't know or understand everything about electronics!! Thank you!!
I bought a mesr100 tester thanks to your video ,it gave me the confidence to try it ,I have 16 Antminer hash boards to try and reanimate ,I was going to desolder 96 caps just to test them not now and it's .50 cents to check each one and a free tester (useful for hobbyist ,just starting ,like me ) when I've tested them ,YAY. U made my weekend ,Bless ya buddy , I always discharge caps ,great advice ,I put a taser in my pocket once without discharging the caps ! Voltage to the nether regions ! Is a great teacher ,wish I'd watched you first (0; Thanks again .
thanks for speaking in a language format that is comprehendible
This comment is so real
Comprehensible
Went through like 5 video. This one by far the most informative and clearer quality
As a young engineer I used to set a multimeter to a 200k+ impedance setting, then I place the probes on the capacitor legs. One way should count up, reverse it and it should count down. Then I know it is working!
What if count down till gets zero and the other ol
pretty crafty. good idea
it will still count down even when the capacitor is leaky.
Yes as the battery charges the capacitor But in practice the ESR could still be too high with that method without an ESR meter
Yes you know its working as a capacitor BUT at what capacitance?
I went to subscribe on this video, but appeared I already subscribed your channel. I don't recall when. This proves that's your most contents are informative. Keep it up. Thanks again.
Tip, when you find out your true focal depth for your camera for closeups, mark that on the table or floor, and don't go past that distance when holding up objects. That way you stay in total focus. :) And I can then SEE what you are pointing to:) Otherwise it is a blurry mess....not fun for you or others. And you are a pro at fixing...we need you!! LOL Anyway, love the videos, and I am learning a lot for an old gal!
The manner in which you speak is the reason I subscribed. Thanks for the content buddy.
Excellent video, what I love is that you have made a CLEAR and Precise Film and a Great and Clear Voice Over, you have definitely Demonstrated your knowledge to others.
I am an Electrical Mech Eng and of an age to have forgotten more than most know, but your Film just opened up all those flood gates for me, thank you so much. Mr Spence Eng
I subscribed because i forgot to do that when i saw your video's earlier. You are a great teacher even when you may not realize that. I'm doing repairs for couple of years now. I only know my basic stuff of electronics and watching your vid's are still educating me alot.
Thanks and greetings from Belgium
An older electronics repair guy once said, "It's usually the capacitors, always check the capacitors". thanks for this video, I feel like I can start checking now.
I agree after servicing televisions and failure is more common in the power supply compared to say the lower voltage stages such as tuner colour etc
Great videos. I appreciate that that you don't assume that people don't know small details when showing videos
I work in the fire alarm industry. Looking for the end of line resistor in an audio circuit with autoranging is difficult. The circuit is a giant parallel circuit of a capacitor in series with a coil. This creates a giant ringing circuit. Since the probe voltage changes as the range changes, the meter is constantly switching ranges, which changes the voltage, which changes the range etc. Setting a fixed range allows the circuit to stabilize quickly.
I really enjoy the way you present your topics, great personality for it, very helpful in my own projects, or when my brain is just stuck on ideas I should know already!
Thanks for doing this video. I was able to fix my dish receiver. Two bad capacitors. Replaced them and it works fantastic now.
My dish 722k used to read the thumb drive that I had some of recordings on. Now it just gives read errors and I don't think the drive is the problem. The internal H/D is about full, which is why I off-loaded onto the T/D. Dish is of no help, they just want me to spend more money. Any ideas?
Well, well, well. This is the first time I'd seen this type of test equipment in use. And the fact that you explained how it all works AND the proper way to read the results is GREAT!
Thanks a lot. Happy New Year.
Thanks!
Thank you 🙏
Great help for PCB's that are stopping a machine from working. Small capacitors are a small link in the operation of something with all else in perfect shape. Washing machines are thrown away every day with a small electronic issue.
great channel! I'm working on troubleshooting a microphone preamp and I think I'll get that ESR meter as the unit is over 20 years old. Thanks for your help!
Yep, Capacitors last about 10 years so if your preamp is bad and 10+ years old check the caps. 👍
I worked as a electronic technician for over 20 years and wish I could of had a capacitor checker like yours. Used the old method measuring the resistance both ways with a analog meter.
Just curious Robert, so you can measure them in circuit with that method?
@@DayClanTribe I have an ESR meter and most of the time you can check the ESR in circuit
Milliohm meter is good for checking shorts in capacitors in circuits without removing them
Analog multimeter is great too.
@@jariekstrom95 how do you check capacitors in circuits?
this tutorial never gets old😉, I am thinking of getting ESR MESR-100 tester although I a have fluke multimeter, did you come across LCR-ST1 tweezers?
I have fluke multimeter I am tring to test capcitor off-board with it same procedure as 6:00 and I am getting OL, tested multiple new ones and the same, I dont have low battery indicator on the screen.🤔
@@abusam1 haven't tried those LCR tweezers. If you're getting ol that means your meter only can read a component value to certain limit. Check your digital multi meter specs sheet and see what values it's limited to. It's always best to discharge and remove the capacitor completely out of circuit when testing.
Excellent presentation, your a great tech, I'm getting back into this after a 20 year gap due to career detour, things have really changed,regardless thank you for sharing your knowledge base.
The ESR can test a Cap while it is in circuit. Are there any exceptions to that statement? Also, what if you want to measure a capacitor that falls outside the given ESR table? For example, I have a 400volt 80 Farad capacitor in circuit. How would I test that one to make sure it is good using the MESR-100? Or, can it be done at all using this meter? Thanks!
Best way to check a cap is to compare measured values to its datasheet parameters, you can find on the internet
how good a teacher is Tampa Tec!!! Extremely useful info well explained.
Thank you 🙏
Hello. Is MESR 100 recommendable for measuring capacitors soldered on the board?
Totally agree. Having a component like a capacitor that's in-circuit won't necessarily give you information that you're looking for (accurately) when measurements are done on it in-circuit. When it's in circuit, the measurement is going to be affected by whatever is in-circuit.
0kpp
😊
Had a meeting with an instructor at a local technical institution, AV boards are re-capped every 5 years. The broadcaster has extra units to swap as each board is done😊
I re-capped all of my amplifiers with higher voltage and temperature, for increased headroom.
I can over volt them without issues.
I would blow up the audio input caps with high output line driver😮
Good plan to change them all, as they are typically designed to only have a 5 year lifespan in circuit.
They might work beyond that, but the electrolyte dries out.
Good advice 👍
I repair old amateur radio tube receivers and the electrolytic Caps are always causing major ac hum and always have to be replaced.. They are always pretty leaky. The newer electrolytic solid state caps are only easy to detect physically when they are swelled up. Thanks again for the great references and the information for checking caps.
Awesome tutorial, this was a lesson I needed, for which I must say thank you. Now I think I am ready to check the capacitors in my old stereo.
Question TampaTec...can you leave the capacitor in the board and still check? That part isn't clear to me as I see that you removed the capacitor, then checked on the board.
@@mysteryjesus I think there are cases when you can, and cases when you can't. If a capacitor is wired in parallel with other capacitors, especially large value ones, there's no way you could test it without removing it. That might be the case in the smoothing circuit of a power supply, for example.
On the other hand, if you get a very low ESR value for a capacitor in circuit (e.g. less than 0.01 Ohms), and you can check that it's not wired to others, you can be fairly confident that you're actually measuring the ESR fairly accurately, and not some other aspect of the circuit it's in, because most of the other components would measure a lot higher than that. For a measurement that low, it would normally be something like a circuit trace, or a fuse, or a large value capacitor that was healthy.
For small value capacitors, there's probably no way to check them without removing them from the circuit first.
@@TooSlowTube Thank you for the response!
@@mysteryjesus You're welcome.
I like the video but I would just point out that the tolerance on most electrolytic caps is +/-20%. So if you chuck them when they are 10% away from stated, they might still actually be OK.
Would you normally get a electric shock slightly if you touch the top of capacitors when tvs power on ?
Like all your videos, very helpful. Just fixed a Samsung TV with blown caps and works good now. So thanks for the tutorials!
Notice you showed us the blown cap next to new cap, and the new cap was 'chebein' Chinese cap. Do you trust those caps? I'm very dubious about them along with chengx and capxon. Usually use rubycon and Panasonic FR/FM/FC.
Keep videos coming.
Very professional and inspiring. Audible and easy to understand, well educational and impressive. Continue your passion and many will pursue your dynamic approach.
Sir help me with the service code of Ls TV 32" mode sa-3209
Sir help me with the service code of LS TV 32" model sa 3209
Sir help me with the service code of Ls TV 32" model sa 3209
Greetings, I am trying to repair a Kenwood SW-32HT powered subwoofer. I managed to get it working for a little while and then it stopped. I replaced the 28A1943 and 28C5200 transistors thinking that was the problem, but to no avail. I can hear a relay turning switching on and off every time it receives the audio signal, and the speaker moves and some sound is heard, but then it switches off. There are two large 8200 uf 62v capacitors next to this relay. I tested both of them and they are reading 7200 uf instead of the 8200 uf on the label. Could this be the cause of my issue or do you think it’s something else?
Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
Thanks, I bought the msr going to help a lot in the auto computers I work on. Great tutorial!
Great video! I have the ESR meter you used. I’ll definitely be watching more of your videos! Cheers!
I am so happy that this channel is growing bigger.
I have a LG 60lb7100 UT and have what seems a power issue. Is there a common trait to look for? Mine shuts off within an hour of turning on and will not come back on for about the same amount of time. Any knowledge shared will be appreciated.
Easy to follow video. Well explained. Useful too since my 32" Samsung tv has a bad cap on the powerboard to the LED connector. The cap didn't split or leak but it has domed up.
Hello
Thank you for your video.
I am working on quartz watches.
1.5v
Could I use either one of the meters.
I seen one of them is the lowest is 10v.
Thank you
Thanks, so we need both the ESR meter for to check the OHM value AND the Fluke (or similar) to confirm the microfarad? Can we get by with just the ESR meter?
Most techs use multimeter only but ESR is great to be 100% sure if cap is good or bad.
Thanks!@@TampaTec
I always wondered what and how this stuff worked...now I do...and a super drawing to make it visual for those of us who learn the best that way! Nice job buddy!!!
Which would you recommend the Peak Atlas esr+ or a clone of the type you are using?
Hi Tampa tech, is it possible to check all components on a car key fob? I’ve been soaking mine in vinegar then alcohol, I can’t get it to work after been in the wash. I thought Maybe reflow some solder on all the solder joints?
Thank you, good review and tutorial. Very helpful. I will be fixing 60 inch TV which were lightning zapped at my client's place. Guess they don't needed and I can use one for living room.
Are ceramic capacitors treated any differently than electrolytic caps as far as testing ESR?
Hi guy, i have been following your repair series for some time now. I have decided to start a new journey on fixing a faulty tv in my neighbourhood and for that matter I think I can count on you for some coaching steps. Good work done bro.
Old dog new tricks thanks for the video just got me an esr meter seen you had one thanks a million it is 1000% faster to check a board keep up the great work hope you got through the storm alright all good here in Jax !!!!!!
I’ve lost it, until the end :))
So , can I check the capacitor with fluke device, and know for sure, is it good with it’s value, without taking it from the circuit? Or I have to take it off, to be sure.
Sorry for my ignorance, I have no education in electronics and I would like to check the status of my beloved car amplifier.
Thanks!
Loved the vid bro thanks so much I have 2 old tvs I never thought of fixing until I wanted to resell electronics lol thanks so much man
Very usefull. What is that cool chordless iron?
Very good illustration, I am looking for lost sound on LG model 42le5900, what's wrong. The pictures are good but started to have fuzzy flashes. Do I have to replace the main board? Please help.
Do you have to zero it out each time you test one. Or just once you turn it on????
Hi I have a multimeter with the following capabilities in regards to capacity readings ( its range) is this suitable for checking the capacitors on the power board of a television? Thanks
Hello;
The fluke 12 multi meter is no longer sold,but what model is the new one,I cannot find it...your video is great.
Hi! Fr Philippines..thanks for your very helpful video..btw, may you recommend specific models and brands w/c are reliable for cap testing in-circuit..tia
Please tell us more about that tine soldering device & other similar types, thanks.
About those modern solid state capacitors,they won't pop out when broken right?And those surface mounted capacitors are even smaller,can we use the same equipment as this video to test them too?
Hello brother , was wondering if I need to discharge them before removal
Concise explanation and demonstration, even a complete novice like me can easily follow along. So many tips packed into this one video, including the "pinhole" in a resister comment. I will be replacing a couple resisters now that read good, but have pinholes in them.
Would that be OK for capacitors (near the VRM) if the CPU cooler is touching them? I wouldn't say there is much pressure, but 100% contact with 3 capacitors from the cpu cooler bracket. Just want to make sure it won't do any damage. Thank you. Paul
Great video! Is it common to get good ESR reading on the board and the cap still busted (way out of spec capacitance)? Or if you measure good ESR on board, can you usually trust that the capacitor is okay as a whole?
question: when you open up an amp, do you always discharge the electrolytics?
Can you use a function generator, wave form Gen ect. To test caps in circuit?
The last measurement of one capacitor seen in a group of three could provide a false positive LOW ESR because if two or more caps are in parallel, you won't see the high ESR of a bad cap because the meter will only show the lowest resistance of a group of capacitors in parallel. Do a continuity check to verify if caps are connected.
Fine presentation.
I used to work fixing pc's motherboards a long ago, I always wanted one of these ESr meter, in that time they cost a lot. Now when reading your comment I find it would not have worth spent the money.
I want to come back to repair again, do you think it would be a good idea get one of those?
Hi. Your video on the different ways of checking caps is great. I have a in-circuit cap checker made by Electronic Design Specialists, but its just for electrolytic caps and only has a lighted scale for result, no text display. Are either of the meters you used in the video good for checking other type caps like ceramic disk, tantalum, polypropylene etc., that have small values of capacitance? I have an old Radio Shack DMM (model 22-812) that could check capacitance, but I think the meter was damaged so its not reliable anymore. I'm just a repair hobbyist, mostly A/V receivers and a occasional LCD flat screen but I need to invest in some better equipment and I liked what you were using. Thanks
I think it's pretty good to talk about electronik tools and how to use it... Thank you!
Hi I have BP monitor that has stopped working, I told someone I continuity fault tested the micro switch and capacitor whilst both components are attached to the PCB, please can you tell me if I did it wrong and what is the correct method please Thankyou
Watch your video about Capacitors. Very interesting. Have to unplug my TV several times before it turns on. Would that be a bad Capacitor?
You got any tips for checking transistors while in circuit with ohm meter? I watched a guy check them on another video, but he didn't explain just grunted a lot and pointed. Don't think he spoke English. I got bad zsus board, that had some bad solder joints and I believe some of the transistors are shot which caused fuse to blow. I repaired solder joints on two boards and ordered fuse, but still need to check transistors. Haven't checked caps with meter, but visually they look good.
Thanks for informing those of us who no what an esr are meter is but not how to use it
Great informative video.
I have a question, what about a cap that is brand new but has slightly bulged top? In first you may say bad cap, but ESR meter tells it is good cap with low ESR (actually it showed 0.000 ohm), capacitance meter showed reading within 10% of written capacity.
Shall we consider this cap good or bad; keeping in mind that it is brand new but has slightly bulged top and all equipment testers said it is good cap????!!!!
Try a leakage test with an ohmmeter. Also it wouldn't hurt to do an ESR check with a different ESR meter.
Please let know more wich device doesnt have to disolder to chech bad curicuit & can you ceck transister too ?
$10 ESR work too ? Please let me know sir.
i found a motel that gave me about 10 lcd tvs for hauling off. Planning on using your videos and others to either repair or sell the boards.
Hello;
The capacitor meters you are talking about,also tests other type of capacitors,non polarized
Your video is so helpful to us, DIYers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge to the world!
People say you can swap any same value cap for one with a higher voltage but if you consider that caps of tiny values can have an acceptable esr of 5ohms or more then surely voltage choice becomes more important at these lower values. a 10uf 16V might have a good esr of 8ohms but a 10uf 250V 2.5ohms thats quite a difference in series resistance.
at 47uf the difference is more extreme 10V at 2.2 ohms and 250V at 0.8V (acceptable ranges in then chart i have).
I might have missed it but did you mention that you can't really read them in circuit when you have caps in parallel.
Feeding a frequency into a cap to check its value is referred to as “Xc” or “capacitive reactance” and the formula that the meter is using is 1/ 2 * 3.14 * Frequency * capacitance.
This formula gives you its resistance value when an AC signal is applied at a specific frequency.
Hello TT. You made no mention in whether or not an ESR meter is capable of testing ceramic or tantalum caps in circuit. Will an esr meter not work for them?
TIA
How does the pilrrs discharged the captators?
Great info! How about a video on techniques for removing glued in electrolytic capacitors?
hey, i have the same fluke. its great. the rubber lcd connectors karked it but managed to find them cheap enough to get it back to action.
Very nice teaching. You have good oratary skills. Thanks a lot for the valuable info.
I bought the fluke 117 from fluke direct and love it! It does both capacitance and resistance for capacitors and has a setting for diodes.
Great video. You're a good teacher.
hwally777
Yes to a point but you should never teach anyone to discharge capacitors with a dead short such as insulated pliers across it as if you did this in a TV power supply with up to 400Vdc you could cause a lot of damage You might get away with it for smaller low voltage caps as shown in the video but is always advisable to discharge all capacitors with a resistor or even a light bulb and you may even see the light come on for a second.
Could you please give me advice for how to test an in circuit 399ohm resistor with an ear meter? I'm trying to test a resistor in my van cluster and don't want/cant take it out.
That is one useful Esr meter. Thanks for the demo and God bless your work.
Great channel
I have a Panasonic pn50a550s1fxza, manufactured in 2009. I have been limping it along for months and it is finally forcing me to do something with it. When I plug it in it tries to turn on, but the screen never comes on properly and it shuts down and tries to restart. Over and over. It used to do this a few times then start normally. Now it is an endless loop.
I found two capacitors on the power supply that look like they have been hot, the shrink wrap cover on them is shrunk more than it should be. They are not bulging or ruptured, but they are the only ones that look odd. I don't have a way to test them, my multimeter is suitable for start run capacitors, but these are a bit higher in value than it can handle.
They are 330uf 450v caps, side by side on the board.
In your opinion, am I on the right track?
Maybe you could have explained for the people why that last one read high in circuit. I understand that high is good. It was in parallel with another capacitor/s. You could confirm this by measuring the adjacent capacitors to see if they give the same reading.
Or it could be some other component in parallel exhibiting capacitance.
Great info, I'm currently working on a Sunfire True Subwoofer Junior. It looks like it has a bad Cap. Thanks again for the great video.
Congrats fixing your sub.
one of best review on yutub.
by the way
is the mesr100 can check on capasitor non polarity?
Man you showing a great 👍 videos and the way how to explain the problems on a tv 📺 and how to find out which part is the problem is the best on you tube well thank you very much wish all the best, and you just earned my subscription.
Do you accept units via mail for repair? I can’t find any local repair centers for my Denon AVR-3313CI that stopped working after a power surge despite being “protected” by a Panamax power unit.
I have a emerson lf320em4a that the led blinks 4 times when power on and then shows the emerson screen then turns off. I replaced the eeprom but that didn't fix the problem all the caps look ok. Do you have any suggestions?