DISK CAP'S,  NUMBER IDENTIFICATION

Have you ever looked on some of these new circuit boards an seen all them small
disk type Capacitors, GREEN, TAN, BROWN, ETC. Wondering what all them numbers 
on then mean. Of course there isn't documentation or schematic for it anywhere
to find. Some of them are marked with the correct values like .01 or .047 is
nice. But what about all them marked with 104, 223, 103, ETC! What are they all
about. They are all about the same size, just all the numbers are different...

That board only cost about $59.95 an that cap. ( board ID No. c123 ) is either
shorted, cracked or smoking. Guess you will just have to toss it out and spend
another $59.95 plus two days running around to find a correct replacement THEN
SALES TAXES. Below is listed the correct way to read them numbers to identify 
the correct values the way I like to economically, (CHEAP).

It seems that c123 is smoking or getting to hot, we know its bad an that c123 
means that is where it goes in the circuit board not a thing about what it is

                                   EXAMPLE 1 

The capacitor has the number 223 on it nothing else.....

              2  2  3
              .  .  ............. MULTIPILER { Number of zeros to add }
              .  .
              .  ................ 2nd SIGNIFICANT Figure { of Value }
              .
              ................... 1st SIGNIFICANT Figure { of Value }

              2  2  000. < There must be a total of 6 places. move the
                           decimal 6 places to the left, add zeros if needed

            .022000    < Then cross out the zeros after the last number.

            .022 Is the value of the needed capacitor.  ( WOW'S ) Thats it.

This will give you the value of said capacitor in microfarads or .022 uf.
( leaving all the zeros on it .022000 is the value in picofarads pf. ) We all
know that the only voltages in most computers are 5.0 WVDC or 12.0 WVDC that
means most any capacitor rated at 35 WVDC will work in 99% of most circuits
with the exception of the main power supply where voltages are much higher on
the input to the switching network they should be 500 or 1000 Working volts...

If in doubt using a higher Working Volts of 100% higher or more if it will fit
doesn't hurt. Do get a capacitor of similar construction type.

                                    EXAMPLE 2

Number on Cap. is       104
                        100000.  Add decimal to rear of total.
                       .100000   Move decimal to left total of 6 places.

                       .1  <----- Is the correct value.   (.1uf)

You can check the voltage with a meter then use a capacitor of at least
double the working voltage (WVDC). Do use capacitors of (WVAC) in circuits
with A.C. voltage like the input to the main power supply.

I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.

                                                            Complements.
                                                             -<T.W.G.>-

That WILD Goose.  July 02, 1989  Member HAL-PC  Houston,Texas.