Measuring Capacitance; Table 2-10 Rotary Switch Position Allowing Capacitance Measurements; Figure 2-21 Capacitance Display - Keysight Technologies U1281A User Manual

2 Making Measurements

Measuring Capacitance

To avoid possible damage to the multimeter or to the equipment under test, disconnect
CAUTION
circuit power and discharge all high-voltage capacitors before measuring capacitance.
Use the DC voltage function to confirm that the capacitor is fully discharged.
Set up your multimeter to measure capacitance as shown in Figure 2-22. Probe the test
points and read the display.
Table 2-10
Legend
– The multimeter measures capacitance by charging the capacitor with a known current
NOTE
for a known period of time, measuring the resulting voltage, and then calculating the
capacitance.
–
shown when the capacitor is discharging.
– To improve measurement accuracy of small value capacitors, press
leads open to subtract the residual capacitance of the multimeter and leads.
– For measuring capacitance values greater than 1000 μF, discharge the capacitor first,
then select a suitable range for measurement. This will speed up the measurement time
and also ensure that the correct capacitance value is obtained.
Figure 2-21
76
Rotary switch position allowing capacitance measurements
Defaul t function
Capacitance measurement
is shown on the bottom left of the display when the capacitor is charging, and
Capacitance display
Function when is pressed
Shift
Esc
Temperature measurement
Vsense
Keysight U1281A/U1282A User's Guide
is
with the test