The $5 Capacitor Leakage Tester

[@MrWasim100100]

nice video you deserve more subscription! i find your videos very informative, you explain very well

[@chrisday518]

Thanks for sharing this little gem - have been playing around with this on my bench and it works pretty well...just one question can i increase test voltage to the working caps voltage , will this give me a better result THANKS Kind Regards...

[@ztechalmanac3194]

Glad to hear it is working out! You can increase the test voltage up to the working voltage of the cap if you'd like, but because the meter is so sensitive, you don't have to. For safety, I wouldn't go above 50V.

[@meaninthemirror]

I think you have to wait until the current settles down because capacitors are still charging. The "good" capacitor settles down quickly because its capacitance is so low comparing others.

[@ztechalmanac3194]

That's correct, especially for higher value electrolytics you need to wait more. Once the capacitor gets leaky, the settling of the current bottoms out, so you can wait longer but the rate of change of the current diminishes.

[@Yorumcu63]

Thank you for this nice video. If ı want make a leakage tester with Arduino what is your advice test algoritym? A ) I must choise capacitor's C range value? (I mean if capacitor's C value high ;it is must more long time to zero ampere time ) B) if a capacitor's currrent value over 2 miliampere on test it is certainly a"Leakly capacitor" Thank you for this great video again

[@ztechalmanac3194]

For the Arduino or other micro controller, you'll want to have some code to wait longer for larger capacitors. Maybe have 3 settings for small, medium and large capacitors and also for types of capacitors. Then yes you'll want to have a current threshold for each capacitor range and type. The manual/analog meter is just easier to use because you can visually tell how the capacitor discharges. With a micro controller your code has to be smart enough to make the right decision, so it isn't trivial.

[@larryshaver3568]

Are the batteries in series?

[@ztechalmanac3194]

Yes that's correct the batteries are in series.