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Capacitor Code Decoder — 3-Digit Markings to Real Capacitance
Enter the tiny 3-digit code printed on a ceramic capacitor (like 104 or 223) to decode its actual capacitance value — the first two digits are the significant figures, the third is a power-of-ten multiplier in picofarads, a system that is not obvious until you have looked it up once.
How to use Capacitor Codes
- Enter the 3-digit code from the capacitor.
- Read the decoded capacitance in pF, nF and µF.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the 3-digit code actually work?
- The first two digits are the significant figures, and the third digit is the power-of-ten multiplier applied in picofarads — so 104 means 10 × 10⁴ pF = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.
- What if the capacitor just says a number like "4.7" or "47"?
- Small-value capacitors are sometimes printed directly in picofarads without the 3-digit code system — a value under 10 with a decimal point is typically pF directly rather than using the multiplier code.
- Does this work for electrolytic capacitors too?
- Electrolytic capacitors are usually printed with the full value and unit directly (like "100µF"), so the 3-digit decoder mainly applies to small ceramic and film capacitors.
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