Single-phase motors, adjustable-speed drives (ASDs), and power factor (PF) correction applications often depend on capacitors to operate properly. This article explains how to test these critical ...

If you’ve done any amount of electronic design work, you’ll be familiar with the need for decoupling capacitors. Sometimes a chip’s datasheet will tell you exactly what kind of caps to place where, ...

As electrolytic capacitors age, their internal resistance, also known as “equivalent series resistance” (ESR), gradually increases. This can eventually lead to equipment failure. Using this design, ...

When your car doesn’t start, often a low or dead battery is the culprit. Unfortunately, most vehicle owners do not check their battery until it fails. As preventative maintenance, the suggested best ...

Powered by a 9V battery or an optional ac wall adapter, the Model 881 handheld tester can be used to measure the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of electrolytic capacitors in or out of circuit. The ...

Many single-phase motors used on refrigeration systems will incorporate some type of capacitor. They will either use a start capacitor to aid in its starting or a run capacitor to improve its running ...

Ever wonder what goes on inside of an electrolytic capacitor? Nick Visic from AiSHi Capacitors shows how these popular capacitors work in this tear-down video from DesignCon. The screw terminal ...

While LCR meters are readily available at reasonable cost, they do not measure the Q of an inductor. This circuit enables you to measure the Q of inductors with the aid of an RF signal generator. A ...

How do you know if a resistor is correctly restricting the flow of electricity? Using a multimeter is an obvious answer. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. This article will explain what ...

When it comes to the most typical cause of poor power factor in a facility, motor inductance is a likely culprit. The problem worsens when motors are not loaded to their full capacity. Harmonic ...