what is the best method to check if capacitor short ?

[project-luminol]

until today i've examine a lot of pics that ask to check if capacitor is short , im doing it right remove him and measure by ,multimeter or just look for any bad signs on him , like color , shape etc ... ?

Thank you all

[Haicha]

Originally Posted by project-luminol

until today i've examine a lot of pics that ask to check if capacitor is short , im doing it right remove him and measure by ,multimeter or just look for any bad signs on him , like color , shape etc ... ?

Thank you all

Put it on the ohmmeter (with the correct polarization for electrolytics, of course). This will let you test the cap for shorts.

Small capacitors should read "open". Large caps will show a "kick" of low impedance, but it will quickly climb and become very high. If the value remains low, you have a shorted cap.

If you want to test a cap to verify its value, you have to get fancier. Applying 60 Hz from a small transformer (less than the cap's rated voltage) and measuring the AC current will let you calculate the capacitance and show if the cap is still within its tolerance.

Source(s):

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/captest.htm
Regards