Hi,

Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
meter?


Marky P.

"Marky P"  wrote in message 
news:8huvd49m7md1ch94l67mkmi27ibsitshpt@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> meter?
>
If you want to test capacitors reliably you need an ESR (Effective series 
resistance) meter, not a capacitance one.

Otherwise testing by substitution is your best bet.

David.

In article ,
   Marky P  wrote:
> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> meter?

A 'capacitance meter' doesn't really test caps. For electrolytics you need
an ESR meter. They're fairly expensive so probably the best means of
testing is substitution.

-- 
*If at first you do succeed, try not to look too astonished.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Marky P"


> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> meter?

** No * ONE *  test  ( or cap tester) will establish that a capacitor is 
perfectly OK,  however, if a cap fails even one important test  -  is  IS 
faulty.

Different types of caps have different electrical characteristics, ie 
electros are very different from plastic film or ceramic types -  so the 
tests you do must suit the type of cap.




.....   Phil

"David Looser"
> "Marky P"
>>
>> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
>> meter?
>>
> If you want to test capacitors reliably you need an ESR (Effective series 
> resistance) meter, not a capacitance one.


** That only applies to electrolytic caps  -  plus the name is "equivalent 
series resistance".

Plus an ESR meter will  NOT  find electro caps that have excessive leakage, 
de-polarised or even become short circuit.

Capacitance meters are basically only handy when you have caps with no 
markings, ambiguous markings or an unknown colour code.


.....   Phil

"Phil Allison"  wrote in message 
news:6kb4v1F6tt9fU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "David Looser"
>> "Marky P"
>>>
>>> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
>>> meter?
>>>
>> If you want to test capacitors reliably you need an ESR (Effective series 
>> resistance) meter, not a capacitance one.
>
>
> ** That only applies to electrolytic caps  -

True, but with modern equipment the vast majority of faulty capacitors are 
electrolytics. Of course if he was talking about pre-1960 equipment then 
leaky paper capacitors are almost a given.

> plus the name is "equivalent series resistance".

Both terms are used. In this context they are equivalent because they 
effectively mean the same thing.
>
> Plus an ESR meter will  NOT  find electro caps that have excessive 
> leakage, de-polarised or even become short circuit.

Agreed, but these faults are readily apparent with normal testing methods.
>
> Capacitance meters are basically only handy when you have caps with no 
> markings, ambiguous markings or an unknown colour code.
>
Agreed.

David.

Marky P wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> meter?
> 
> 
> Marky P.

By test, do you mean "is it working ok?" or do you want to measure the 
value accurately?

For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range. 
The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards 
high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the 
value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open 
circuit, the cap is probably ok. For a more complete picture you need a 
proper capacitor that will do several things - measure the actual 
capacitance, put an appropriate voltage across it, measure the ESR and 
the leakage resistance.

d

"David Looser the Brain Dead Lying Cunt "
>
>>
>>>> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
>>>> meter?
>>>>
>>> If you want to test capacitors reliably you need an ESR (Effective 
>>> series resistance) meter, not a capacitance one.
>>
>>
>> ** That only applies to electrolytic caps  -
>
> True, but with modern equipment the vast majority of faulty capacitors...


**  So fucking what ?

The OP never alluded to what sort of caps he wanted to test.

So your assumption is   100%  FALSE   !!!!!!!!



>> plus the name is "equivalent series resistance".
>
> Both terms are used.


**  Complete  BOLLOCKS.


> Plus an ESR meter will  NOT  find electro caps that have excessive
>> leakage, de-polarised or even become short circuit.
>
> Agreed,


** So your assertion above is a 100%  total pile of  CRAP.

   Just like you  -    sunshine.




.....  Phil

"Don Pearce the Geriatric Fool "


> For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range. 
> The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards 
> high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the 
> value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open 
> circuit, the cap is probably ok.


** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!

Hey grand-dad !!

Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??

Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?


Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -

&   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG advice.




......  Phil

Phil Allison wrote:
> "Don Pearce the Geriatric Fool "
> 
> 
>> For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range. 
>> The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards 
>> high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the 
>> value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open 
>> circuit, the cap is probably ok.
> 
> 
> ** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!
> 
> Hey grand-dad !!
> 
> Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??
> 
> Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?
> 
> 
> Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -
> 
> &   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG advice.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ......  Phil
> 
> 
> 

You don't have a multimeter with a needle? You are missing one of the 
best alignment tools anyone could own - and a handy capacitor tester of 
course. Go out and buy one now - it isn't a replacement for a DMM, but a 
very useful complement.

d

"Don Pearce  Geriatric Fool "


> For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range. 
> The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards 
> high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the 
> value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open 
> circuit, the cap is probably ok.


** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!

Hey grand-dad !!

Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??

Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?


Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -

&   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG  advice.

IMBECILE




.....   Phil

In article <N5OdnaDPqIj7fn3VnZ2dnUVZ8gidnZ2d@posted.plusnet>,
   Don Pearce  wrote:
> You don't have a multimeter with a needle? You are missing one of the 
> best alignment tools anyone could own - and a handy capacitor tester of 
> course. Go out and buy one now - it isn't a replacement for a DMM, but a 
> very useful complement.

Absolutely. But you can't expect bar room 'experts' like our Phil to know
such things...

-- 
*The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Phil Allison wrote:
> "Don Pearce  Geriatric Fool "
> 
> 
>> For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range. 
>> The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards 
>> high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the 
>> value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open 
>> circuit, the cap is probably ok.
> 
> 
> ** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!
> 
> Hey grand-dad !!
> 
> Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??
> 
> Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?
> 
> 
> Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -
> 
> &   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG  advice.
> 
> IMBECILE
> 
> 
> 
> 
> .....   Phil
> 
> 
> 
> 
Try
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=25414

You really must learn to control that temper

Roger

"Marky P"  wrote in message 
news:8huvd49m7md1ch94l67mkmi27ibsitshpt@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> meter?
>
>
> Marky P.

Yes, put your tongue across the contacts a few seconds after switching off.

David Looser wrote:
> 
> "Marky P"  wrote in message
> news:8huvd49m7md1ch94l67mkmi27ibsitshpt@4ax.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> > meter?
> >
> If you want to test capacitors reliably you need an ESR (Effective series
> resistance) meter, not a capacitance one.
> 
> Otherwise testing by substitution is your best bet.
> 
> David.


Its possible measure the value of capacitance using a low Rout signal
generator feeding a potentiometer in series with the capacitor with one
lead grounded. A volt meter is used to measure signal voltage across the
C. Set the signal gene at 10.0V sine wave at some chosen F. Alter the
value of the series resistance until you see 7.07Vrms appear across the
capacitor.
Disconnect the pot without altering its resistance, then measure its
resistance accurately.

C in uF then can be calculated = 159,000 / ( R in ohms x frequency )  so
say you had R = 5,000 ohms, and F = 1.0kHz, then C = .0318uF .  

You could also have an air cored inductor of known inductance, and
parallel the C with the L, and feed it with a signal from a 10k
resistance from the sig gene. Using an osciloscope, tune the gene F for
the highest peak in resonance, known as Fo. Record Fo.

C in uF = 25.351 x 1,000,000 / F in Hz squared x L in milliHenrys.

Eg, if L = 100mH, F = 1kHz = 1,000 Hz, C = 0.251uF.

There are other ways using an old fashioned bridge.

ESR is measured in other ways, but it seems the OP wanted to know how to
work out the C value without a C meter.

Many cheap DVMs now sold measures C very well.

But they don't always measure L very well, espcially iron cored items
with variable L value at different F and V applied.

Patrick Turner.

Phil Allison wrote:
> 
> "Marky P"
> 
> > Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a capacitance
> > meter?
> 
> ** No * ONE *  test  ( or cap tester) will establish that a capacitor is
> perfectly OK,  however, if a cap fails even one important test  -  is  IS
> faulty.
> 
> Different types of caps have different electrical characteristics, ie
> electros are very different from plastic film or ceramic types -  so the
> tests you do must suit the type of cap.

Indeed, and I forgot these valid points in my last post.

Testing for leakage current can be done by applying dc voltage via a
100k to the cap and measuring the voltage drop across the 100k R over
some long time. But the voltage across the cap must not exceed the value
marked on the cap for all caps,
and for electros, the cap voltage should not be less than 1/4 of the
working Vdc marked on the cap.

I think the OP mainly wanted the C value.

Patrick Turner.
> 
> .....   Phil

"Patrick Turner"  wrote in message 
news:48E3441D.5FC6B210@turneraudio.com.au...
>
>
>
> ESR is measured in other ways, but it seems the OP wanted to know how to
> work out the C value without a C meter.
>
Does it? the OP talked about "testing" a capacitor, not "measuring" it; that 
sounds to me more like someone who wanted to know whether a capacitor was 
faulty.

Since the OP has remained silent since his first post what he actually 
wanted remains a mystery.

David.

Phil Allison wrote:
> 
> "Don Pearce the Geriatric Fool "
> 
> > For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range.
> > The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards
> > high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the
> > value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open
> > circuit, the cap is probably ok.
> 
> ** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!
> 
> Hey grand-dad !!
> 
> Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??
> 
> Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?
> 
> Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -
> 
> &   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG advice.
> 
> ......  Phil

Calm down Phil. You'll give grandad a heart attack.

The ohm test across a C does give some indication of the status of the
C.
If the cap is shorted, a DMM just shows a very low R number immediately.

If its not shorted, and doesn't have a stored charge (that well might
bend a meter needle in granpa's work shed), then the DMM will eventually
read OL for most plastic caps at least after some time as the cap
charges up with applied Vdc from the meter via the meter's series high
output resistance. 

Most ohm meters produce a very low Vdc to test ohm values and a cap's
integrity needs to be tested at a Vdc across the cap for quite some time
and near the V rating of the cap, and when the temp is raised to near
operational if need be and with a CRO connected across the cap to detect
Vdc movements or intermittent noise/arcing in the cap.

Patrick Turner.

Don Pearce wrote:
> 
> Phil Allison wrote:
> > "Don Pearce the Geriatric Fool "
> >
> >
> >> For a quick and dirty test, just connect a multimeter on the ohms range.
> >> The needle should flick across to short circuit, then drop back towards
> >> high resistance. The time it takes to drop back is proportional to the
> >> value of the capacitor. If the needle ultimately drops back to open
> >> circuit, the cap is probably ok.
> >
> >
> > ** ROTFLMFAO   !!!!!!!!!!
> >
> > Hey grand-dad !!
> >
> > Got any fucking idea how long it is since " multimeters "  had needles ??
> >
> > Bet your pathetic old  AVO  has a nice  BENT one  -   eh ?
> >
> >
> > Why don't you  PISS  the  HELL  off  -   grand dad -
> >
> > &   spare the planet you dumb as dog shit  WRONG advice.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ......  Phil
> >
> >
> >
> 
> You don't have a multimeter with a needle? You are missing one of the
> best alignment tools anyone could own - and a handy capacitor tester of
> course. Go out and buy one now - it isn't a replacement for a DMM, but a
> very useful complement.

I have several analog and digital meters in my shed. But 99% of what i
measure is done with a Fluke DMM.

I got the analog meters for almost free at ham fests and dumpster bins.
Some I have calibrated for voltage measurement using an opamp drive with
diode in the shunt FB path so the meter reads logarithmically. These are
then calibrated in up to 30dB each side of a centre idle point, making
readings of speaker responses quite easy and accurate enough over 33
chosen filter Fo of the audio band. The signals measured are those
recovered from a pink noise source fed to the speaker, and a mic signal
amplified and filtered by a bandpass filter with Q = 12 at all F.

Its an old fashioned thing I made before I got a PC. I have not got
around to buying a Spectral analyser program to display speaker response
immediately on a PC screen, and variably as you change the mic position,
or alter a cross over component.

But it tells me 90% of what I need to know about loudspeakers. And if
the C values in crossovers were correct, or labelled correctly at the
factory; sometimes you get old "100uF" caps but they measure say 52uF,
but look perfect, and have not obviously dried out, and sometimes much
more C is there than the amount on the can. But its never an accurate
way to measure the C in crossovers, so see my other posts.

Patrick Turner. 



 
> 
> d

"Patrick Turner"
>
>
> Indeed, and I forgot these valid points in my last post.
>
>
> I think the OP mainly wanted the C value.


** Then it would indeed profit the good fellow -  most greatly -

 to learn how to   FUCKING  READ  !!!!!!!!!!!!




.......   Phil

Don Pearce wrote:

> You don't have a multimeter with a needle? You are missing one of the
> best alignment tools anyone could own - and a handy capacitor tester of
> course. Go out and buy one now - it isn't a replacement for a DMM, but a
> very useful complement.

Handy for measuring noise too due to the mechanical time constant. Noise tends
to send DVMs nuts.

Graham

Phil Allison wrote:
> 
> "Patrick Turner"
> >
> >
> > Indeed, and I forgot these valid points in my last post.
> >
> >
> > I think the OP mainly wanted the C value.
> 
> ** Then it would indeed profit the good fellow -  most greatly -
> 
>  to learn how to   FUCKING  READ  !!!!!!!!!!!!
> 
> .......   Phil

"The good fellow"  ??  

I didn't think there was one left...

Patrick Turner

On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 10:42:53 +0100, "David Looser"
 wrote:

>"Patrick Turner"  wrote in message 
>news:48E3441D.5FC6B210@turneraudio.com.au...
>>
>>
>>
>> ESR is measured in other ways, but it seems the OP wanted to know how to
>> work out the C value without a C meter.
>>
>Does it? the OP talked about "testing" a capacitor, not "measuring" it; that 
>sounds to me more like someone who wanted to know whether a capacitor was 
>faulty.
>
>Since the OP has remained silent since his first post what he actually 
>wanted remains a mystery.
>
>David.
>
Very sorry!  I forgot  made this post (someone over at alt.digital.tv
remined me).  I want to test for faulty caps.  It's in a power supply
unit in a 1980's professional multi-track tape recorder

Marky P.

Marky P wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 10:42:53 +0100, "David Looser"
>  wrote:
> 
> >"Patrick Turner"  wrote in message
> >news:48E3441D.5FC6B210@turneraudio.com.au...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ESR is measured in other ways, but it seems the OP wanted to know how to
> >> work out the C value without a C meter.
> >>
> >Does it? the OP talked about "testing" a capacitor, not "measuring" it; that
> >sounds to me more like someone who wanted to know whether a capacitor was
> >faulty.
> >
> >Since the OP has remained silent since his first post what he actually
> >wanted remains a mystery.
> >
> >David.
> >
> Very sorry!  I forgot  made this post (someone over at alt.digital.tv
> remined me).  I want to test for faulty caps.  It's in a power supply
> unit in a 1980's professional multi-track tape recorder
> 
> Marky P.

Try just replacing it with another of the right type. If the problem of
noise or silence vanishes, maybe its the cap. Hire a tech to find out
for you? every tech knows what to do about testing a cap for a
fault/leakage and its been discussed many times here and else where.

Reading the circuit should inform you of the Vdc across the cap and hum
voltage, so if there is a lot of hum and Vdc is low, and there are hot
parts, then maybe the circuit powered by the Vdc is drawing too much
Idc.  Take the wholeistic approach, or else put up with wrong
diagnosies. 

Patrick Turner.

>>>
>> Basically, there was a severe buzzing noise on the output and the
>> fault was traced to the PSU supply not being stable.
>
> Is it a linear, or switch-mode? How many output rails are there? does the 
> instability affect them all, or only one or two?
>
>> The caps were
>> replaced
>
> All of them?
>
>> and the problem was rectified.  Well, within a couple of
>> months the fault is back,
>
> So probably not capacitors then, unless it's the ones that got missed last 
> time. (Is the fault *exactly* the same?) Maybe the instability is the 
> result of a broken PCB track, dry joint or poor connection somewhere that 
> makes contact when it wants too, and the "cure" last time was due to the 
> physical handling of the PSU causing this to make contact again, for a 
> while.
>
>> and instead of paying silly prices to one of
>> the very few tape machine repair guys around, my mate wanted me to fix
>> it if I could find the faulty caps.  The last repair cost £500.  The
>> tape machine is a Saturn Soundcraft, and aparently there is only one
>> person in the country who can repair them (he lives in Bury St.
>> Edmunds).
>>
> Unlikely. Unless the machine was designed on Saturn (or in Bury St Ed) any 
> competent repair technician ought to be able repair it.

Excatly what I thought.
Mind you they do a very good line of condensers on the planet Metaluna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Island_Earth

-- 
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

"David Looser"  wrote in message 
news:6kndirF8qt4iU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Marky P"  wrote in message 
> news:i4tce41emcbjhvhm1kiah55rkn5nnua3lm@4ax.com...
>>>
>> Basically, there was a severe buzzing noise on the output and the
>> fault was traced to the PSU supply not being stable.
>
> Is it a linear, or switch-mode? How many output rails are there? does the 
> instability affect them all, or only one or two?
>
>> The caps were
>> replaced
>
> All of them?
>
>> and the problem was rectified.  Well, within a couple of
>> months the fault is back,
>
> So probably not capacitors then, unless it's the ones that got missed last 
> time. (Is the fault *exactly* the same?) Maybe the instability is the 
> result of a broken PCB track, dry joint or poor connection somewhere that 
> makes contact when it wants too, and the "cure" last time was due to the 
> physical handling of the PSU causing this to make contact again, for a 
> while.
>
>> and instead of paying silly prices to one of
>> the very few tape machine repair guys around, my mate wanted me to fix
>> it if I could find the faulty caps.  The last repair cost £500.  The
>> tape machine is a Saturn Soundcraft, and aparently there is only one
>> person in the country who can repair them (he lives in Bury St.
>> Edmunds).
>>
> Unlikely. Unless the machine was designed on Saturn (or in Bury St Ed) any 
> competent repair technician ought to be able repair it.
>
> David.
>
>
What's wrong with Bury St Edmunds?  My designs generally work.......
S.
-- 
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

On Fri, 3 Oct 2008 21:28:09 +0100, "David Looser"
 wrote:

>"Marky P"  wrote in message 
>news:i4tce41emcbjhvhm1kiah55rkn5nnua3lm@4ax.com...
>>>
>> Basically, there was a severe buzzing noise on the output and the
>> fault was traced to the PSU supply not being stable.
>
>Is it a linear, or switch-mode? How many output rails are there? does the 
>instability affect them all, or only one or two?

Unfortunately I haven't looked at it myself, so I don't know.
>
>> The caps were
>> replaced
>
>All of them?

Again, I'm not sure.  Wouldn't've thought so.
>
>> and the problem was rectified.  Well, within a couple of
>> months the fault is back,
>
>So probably not capacitors then, unless it's the ones that got missed last 
>time. (Is the fault *exactly* the same?) Maybe the instability is the result 
>of a broken PCB track, dry joint or poor connection somewhere that makes 
>contact when it wants too, and the "cure" last time was due to the physical 
>handling of the PSU causing this to make contact again, for a while.
>
>> and instead of paying silly prices to one of
>> the very few tape machine repair guys around, my mate wanted me to fix
>> it if I could find the faulty caps.  The last repair cost £500.  The
>> tape machine is a Saturn Soundcraft, and aparently there is only one
>> person in the country who can repair them (he lives in Bury St.
>> Edmunds).
>>
>Unlikely. Unless the machine was designed on Saturn (or in Bury St Ed) any 
>competent repair technician ought to be able repair it.
>
>David.
>

Marky P.

"Marky P"  wrote in
message news:8huvd49m7md1ch94l67mkmi27ibsitshpt@4ax.com
> Hi,
>
> Is it possible to test capacitors reliably without a
> capacitance meter?

Yes, if you have some fairly precise reference parts, you can set up a 
capacitance bridge on the bench that allows you to measure capacitance and 
series R by indirect means.

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_12/5.html

Phil Allison wrote:

>> True, but with modern equipment the vast majority of faulty capacitors...
> **  So fucking what ?
> The OP never alluded to what sort of caps he wanted to test.
> So your assumption is   100%  FALSE   !!!!!!!!

You know, when I see an outburst like this I always imagine the poster 
sat at the computer wearing his underwear and a straight jacket, typing 
by picking up a pencil in his teeth and dribbling everywhere.

Either that or wearing a dress like the character "Anne" in the popular 
British comedy "Little Britain".

-- 
  Squirrel Solutions Ltd                             Tel: (01453) 845735
  http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/                Fax: (01453) 843773

  Registered in England: 05877408

Glenn Richards wrote:
> Phil Allison wrote:
> 
>>> True, but with modern equipment the vast majority of faulty 
>>> capacitors...
>>
>> **  So fucking what ?
>> The OP never alluded to what sort of caps he wanted to test.
>> So your assumption is   100%  FALSE   !!!!!!!!
> 
> 
> You know, when I see an outburst like this I always imagine the poster 
> sat at the computer wearing his underwear and a straight jacket, typing 
> by picking up a pencil in his teeth and dribbling everywhere.
> 
> Either that or wearing a dress like the character "Anne" in the popular 
> British comedy "Little Britain".
> 


http://xkcd.com/386/

-- 
Nick

"Glenn Richards"  wrote in message 
news:Uoudnc-RJuCiqWHVnZ2dnUVZ8vKdnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> Phil Allison wrote:
>
>>> True, but with modern equipment the vast majority of faulty 
>>> capacitors...
>> **  So fucking what ?
>> The OP never alluded to what sort of caps he wanted to test.
>> So your assumption is   100%  FALSE   !!!!!!!!
>
> You know, when I see an outburst like this I always imagine the poster sat 
> at the computer wearing his underwear and a straight jacket, typing by 
> picking up a pencil in his teeth and dribbling everywhere.
>
> Either that or wearing a dress like the character "Anne" in the popular 
> British comedy "Little Britain".
>

And, as it turned out, my assumption was 100% correct!

David.