Capacitance Calculator

This calculator helps you convert between different units of capacitance, which is a fundamental property in electrical engineering and electronics. Whether you’re working with large industrial capacitors or tiny electronic components, this tool makes unit conversion quick and accurate.

Understanding Capacitance

Capacitance is the ability of a system to store an electric charge. It is measured in farads (F), named after the English physicist Michael Faraday. One farad is defined as the capacitance of a capacitor that stores one coulomb of charge when a potential difference of one volt is applied across its plates.

The formula for capacitance is:

C = Q/V

Where:

• C is capacitance in farads (F)
• Q is electric charge in coulombs (C)
• V is potential difference in volts (V)

Common Units of Capacitance

Due to the large size of a farad, smaller units are more commonly used in practical applications:

• Farad (F): The base SI unit of capacitance
• Millifarad (mF): 1 mF = 10⁻³ F
• Microfarad (µF): 1 µF = 10⁻⁶ F
• Nanofarad (nF): 1 nF = 10⁻⁹ F
• Picofarad (pF): 1 pF = 10⁻¹² F

Practical Applications

Different capacitance ranges are used in various applications:

1. Large Capacitors (Farads)

   • Supercapacitors
   • Energy storage systems
   • Power supply smoothing

2. Medium Capacitors (Microfarads)

   • Power supply filtering
   • Motor starting capacitors
   • Audio equipment

3. Small Capacitors (Nanofarads/Picofarads)

   • Digital electronics
   • Radio frequency circuits
   • Timing circuits

How to Use the Calculator

1. Enter the capacitance value you want to convert
2. Select the unit you’re converting from
3. Select the unit you want to convert to
4. Click “Calculate” to see the result

The calculator will display the converted value in scientific notation for precise results across the wide range of possible values.

Tips for Accurate Conversion

• When working with very small or large values, scientific notation (e.g., 1e-6 for 0.000001) can be used for input
• Double-check your unit selections, as using the wrong unit can lead to significant errors
• Remember that capacitance values are always positive

Common Conversion Examples

Here are some commonly needed conversions:

• 1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF
• 1 mF = 1,000 µF = 1,000,000 nF
• 1 F = 1,000 mF = 1,000,000 µF

Technical Notes

• The calculator handles values from 0 to 1e12 (1 trillion) units
• Results are displayed in scientific notation for clarity
• All conversions are based on the standard SI unit (farad) as the reference

Note: While this calculator provides precise mathematical conversions, real-world capacitors have tolerances and parasitic effects that may affect their actual capacitance values.