How to Use the Capacitor Color Code Calculator
Our interactive simulator provides direct visual feedback for workbench speed. Sizing capacitors has never been more intuitive:
Select Shape
Choose the package type that represents your physical capacitor from the custom cards in Stage 1.
Select Bands
Choose whether your physical capacitor has 4 bands or 5 bands from the primary drop-down menu.
Choose Colors
Map each band sequence to its correct color. The premium 3D graphic updates live to display your selection.
Decode Sizing
Click 'Calculate' to instantly output capacitance values in pF, nF, µF, and mF alongside tolerance and voltage.
Calculation Formulas & Step-by-Step Manual Sizing
Our decoding engine executes calculations using standardized electrical engineering equations. Learn how standard digit-multiplier scales translate color codes into actual capacitance values, and walk through a step-by-step practical manual sizing example.
Capacitance Sizing Formula
The base capacitance is determined by the first two significant digits, multiplied by the base 10 scale multiplier:
Detailed Band Explanations
Represents the first and second significant digits of the nominal capacitance value measured in picofarads (pF).
Scales the nominal digits by a factor of 10 (from 10^-2 up to 10^6) to calculate total capacitance in pF.
Dictates the maximum permissible variance (e.g. ±1%, ±5%, ±20%) from the nominal value.
Indicates the maximum safe continuous DC operating voltage rating (e.g., 100V, 250V, 400V).
Practical Example: Sizing a 5-Band Film Capacitor
Let's decode a physical film capacitor with the following five bands from left to right: Yellow, Violet, Red, Black, and Red.
Applying the Sizing Equation:
Convert from base picofarads to nanofarads or microfarads: 4,700 pF = 4.7 nF = 0.0047 µF. The final component rating is 0.0047 µF with a tolerance of ±20% and a safe operating voltage of 250V DC.
EIA/IEC Standard Capacitor Color Code Reference Chart
This comprehensive reference chart details the values assigned to each color code according to international standard EIA and IEC electronic packaging standards. Use it to verify digit bands, multiplier factors, tolerances, and voltage ratings at a glance.
| Color | Digit 1 | Digit 2 | Multiplier | Tolerance | Voltage Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | 0 | x1 | ±20% | - |
| Brown | 1 | 1 | x10 | ±1% | 100 V |
| Red | 2 | 2 | x100 | ±2% | 250 V |
| Orange | 3 | 3 | x1,000 | ±3% | - |
| Yellow | 4 | 4 | x10,000 | ±4% | 400 V |
| Green | 5 | 5 | x100,000 | ±5% | - |
| Blue | 6 | 6 | x1,000,000 | - | 630 V |
| Violet | 7 | 7 | - | - | - |
| Gray | 8 | 8 | x0.01 | - | - |
| White | 9 | 9 | x0.1 | ±10% | - |
Sizing Capacitor Banks for Capacitor Color Code Correction
Power factor correction (PFC) improves system efficiency by injecting leading reactive power (kVAR) to offset the lagging reactive power drawn by inductive loads in your Capacitor Color Code. Sizing the required capacitor bank is done with this formula:
Improving the power factor toward a target of 0.95 or 0.98 reduces feeder current, lowers copper losses (I²R), and eliminates high penalty fees from electric utility providers.
Active, Reactive, and Apparent Power in Capacitor Color Code
AC electrical power in Capacitor Color Code applications is divided into three components: active power (kW, doing actual work), reactive power (kVAR, magnetic field maintenance), and apparent power (kVA, total demand on the grid):
This relationship forms the Power Triangle. By reducing the reactive power component (kVAR) through local capacitor banks, the apparent power (kVA) demand is minimized. This frees up capacity in your supply transformers and allows you to support additional loads without upgrading utility connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about reading and decoding legacy or vintage capacitor color codes.