Capacitance Converter

Capacitance conversion uses factors of 1000: 1 Farad (F) = 1000 millifarads (mF). 1 mF = 1000 microfarads (µF). 1 µF = 1000 nanofarads (nF). 1 nF = 1000 picofarads (pF). To convert downward (larger to smaller): multiply by 1000 per step. Example: 0.001 F = 1 mF = 1000 µF = 1,000,000 nF. To convert upward: divide by 1000 per step. Example: 10,000 pF = 10 nF = 0.01 µF. Most common capacitor values fall in the µF to pF range.

Capacitance is a component's ability to store electrical charge, measured in farads (F). One farad stores one coulomb of charge at one volt. Practical capacitors range from picofarads (pF) to farads (F). Common types: electrolytic capacitors (1-10,000 µF for power supplies), ceramic capacitors (1 pF-100 µF for high-frequency circuits), tantalum capacitors (0.1-1000 µF for compact designs), and supercapacitors (1-5000 F for energy storage). The farad is a large unit; most circuits use microfarads and picofarads.

Common capacitor value ranges by circuit type: Power supply filtering: 100-4700 µF electrolytic. Audio coupling: 1-100 µF electrolytic or film. RF bypass/decoupling: 0.1 µF (100 nF) ceramic (most common value). Timing circuits: 0.01-10 µF. High-frequency tuning: 1-100 pF ceramic. Crystal oscillator load caps: 10-33 pF. Standard E-series values: 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, 6.8 (multiply by powers of 10). Example: 4.7 µF, 47 µF, 470 µF. The 0.1 µF (100 nF) ceramic capacitor is found in virtually every electronic device.

The farad (F) is the base SI unit of capacitance. One farad is very large: it would require a capacitor the size of a building. Microfarad (µF): 10^-6 F, common for electrolytic capacitors in power supplies. Nanofarad (nF): 10^-9 F, bridging micro and picofarads. Picofarad (pF): 10^-12 F, common for high-frequency and RF circuits. Visual reference: 1 F supercapacitor = about the size of a coin cell battery. 1000 µF electrolytic = size of a small pencil eraser. 100 nF ceramic = size of a grain of rice. 10 pF ceramic = barely visible.