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How to Measure a Capacitor's Leakage Current

Electricity is due to the flow of electrons through metallic wires. Electrical devices operate by using a number of key components and these include resistors, inductors and capacitors. A capacitor is a device that is used to store electrical charge and discharge it within a given timescale. Unfortunately most capacitors do have a small amount of current flow between discharges and this is known as a leakage current. The leakage current of a capacitor can be measured using a leakage current meter.

Things You'll Need

Capacitor leakage current meter

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the voltage and current leads to the capacitor leakage current meter. Connect one side of the black lead to the current input terminal and the other side to the capacitor's negative terminal. Connect one side of the red lead to the voltage output terminal and the other side to the capacitor's positive terminal.
- 2
  Switch on the capacitor leakage current meter. Select the sequence test mode using the function keys to the right of the LCD screen. This will allow an automatic charge, measure and discharge.
- 3
  Press the "Trigger/Charge" key. This starts the charging of the capacitor to a preset voltage, waits for time delay, measures the leakage current and discharges the capacitor. The result of the leakage current measurement is displayed on the LCD screen, to the right of "LC."

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