What is a capacitor voltage rating?

The voltage rating is the maximum voltage that a capacitor is meant to be exposed to and can store. Some say a good engineering practice is to choose a capacitor that has double the voltage rating than the power supply voltage you will use to charge it.

How are capacitors rated?

Capacitors are rated according to how near to their actual values they are compared to the rated nominal capacitance with coloured bands or letters used to indicated their actual tolerance. The most common tolerance variation for capacitors is 5% or 10% but some plastic capacitors are rated as low as ±1%.

How are capacitor ratings determined?

Capacitor ratings are determined by how close to the actual values they are when compared to the rated nominal capacitance. Letters and colored bands are used to indicate actual tolerance. Common tolerance levels for capacitors sit around 5% - 10%. However, some capacitors made of plastic have been rated as low as ±1%.

Why do capacitors have different voltage ratings?

In another, 50 volts may be needed. A capacitor with a 50V rating or higher would be used. This is why capacitors come in different voltage ratings, so that they can supply circuits with different voltages, fitting the power (voltage) needs of the circuit.

Should a capacitor be rated 50 volts?

So if a capacitor is going to be exposed to 25 volts, to be on the safe side, it's best to use a 50 volt-rated capacitor. Also, note that the voltage rating of a capacitor is also referred to at times as the working voltage or maximum working voltage (of the capacitor).

What is the value of a capacitor?

When it comes to importance, the nominal value of the Capacitance, C of a capacitor will always rank at the top of capacitor characteristics. This value can be measured in three ways: These values are printed directly onto the body of the capacitor in letters, numbers, and colored bands.