826 capacitor value
82 µF
82,000,000 pF · 82000 nF · 82 µF
| Marked code | 826 |
| Picofarads | 82,000,000 pF |
| Nanofarads | 82000 nF |
| Microfarads | 82 µF |
| Farads | 8.20e-5 F |
Reading the code
The three digits are not a part number. The first two are the value in picofarads and the third says what to do with them:
82 × 106 = 82,000,000 pF
So 826 is 82 followed by 6 zeros: 82,000,000 pF. The code is always in picofarads even when the part is sold in microfarads, which is the whole difficulty with it — a capacitor marked 826 is stocked as 82 µF and the two numbers look nothing alike.
What 82 µF does at frequency
A capacitor's opposition to a signal is its reactance, 1 ÷ (2πfC), and it falls as the frequency rises. Over the range of frequencies a circuit can put across it, a 82 µF part covers several orders of magnitude:
| Frequency | Reactance |
|---|---|
| 50 Hz — mains | 38.82 Ω |
| 1 kHz — audio | 1.94 Ω |
| 100 kHz — switching | 19.4 mΩ |
| 10 MHz — RF | 0.2 mΩ |
Ten times the frequency is a tenth of the reactance, every time — which is why choosing a decoupling capacitor is really choosing the frequency band you want it to be low-impedance across, and why boards carry several sizes in parallel rather than one large one.
The letter after the number
A code like 826K carries a tolerance letter. It is not part of the value:
| Letter | Tolerance | 82 µF means |
|---|---|---|
826J | ±5% | 77.9 µF to 86.1 µF |
826K | ±10% | 73.8 µF to 90.2 µF |
826M | ±20% | 65.6 µF to 98.4 µF |
826Z | +80% / −20% | 65.6 µF to 147.6 µF |
A Z is worth knowing about. +80%/−20% is a real tolerance on cheap high-permittivity ceramics, and it means a part marked 826Z can legitimately be anything from 65.6 µF to 147.6 µF. Those go in decoupling positions where only the rough size matters, never in a timing or filter position.
Where 82 µF turns up
Microfarads and up is bulk energy storage: holding a rail up between switching cycles, smoothing a supply, or coupling a signal that goes down to a few hertz. Above about 10 µF ceramics give way to electrolytics and tantalums, which is why the code runs out here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the value of a 826 capacitor?
82 µF — 82,000,000 pF · 82000 nF · 82 µF. The first two digits are the value in picofarads and the third is how many zeros follow, so 826 is 82 followed by 6 zeros = 82,000,000 pF.
What is a 826 capacitor in µF?
82 µF. Going from picofarads to microfarads is six decimal places, which is where most of the confusion with these codes comes from — 82,000,000 pF, 82000 nF and 82 µF are the same capacitor written three ways.
What does the letter after 826 mean?
Tolerance. 826K is ±10%, 826J is ±5% and 826M is ±20% — so a 826K is anywhere from 73.8 µF to 90.2 µF and still in specification. A Z means +80%/−20%, which is not a mistake: some ceramic dielectrics really are that loose.
What is the impedance of a 826 capacitor at 1 kHz?
1.94 Ω. Reactance is 1 ÷ (2πfC), so it falls as the frequency rises: the same part is 19.4 mΩ at 100 kHz and 0.2 mΩ at 10 MHz.
Nearby codes
- 108 capacitor — 0.1 pF
- 128 capacitor — 0.12 pF
- 158 capacitor — 0.15 pF
- 188 capacitor — 0.18 pF
- 228 capacitor — 0.22 pF
- 278 capacitor — 0.27 pF
- 338 capacitor — 0.33 pF
- 398 capacitor — 0.39 pF
- 478 capacitor — 0.47 pF
- 568 capacitor — 0.56 pF