• Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Home & Garden
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Video
  • Shows
  • Blogs
  • Quizzes
  • Games
  • Random Article
  • Computer
  • Electronics
  • Home > 
  • Tech > 
  • Electronics > 
  • Solid State Electronics

by Marshall Brain and Charles W. Bryant

Print
Cite This!
Close 
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

Brain, Marshall, and Charles W. Bryant.  "How Capacitors Work"  17 September 2007.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm>  11 February 2012.
Cite
Feedback

Gadgets Deconstructed

Watch now
Watch now
Inside this Article
  1. Introduction to How Capacitors Work
  2. Capacitor Circuit
  3. Farad
  1. History of the Capacitor
  2. Lots More Information
  3. See all Solid State Electronics articles

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • Capacitor Quiz
  • How Inductors Work
  • How Oscillators Work
  • How Batteries Work
  • How Lightning Works
  • What are amps, watts, volts and ohms?

More Great Links

  • Introduction to Capacitance
  • Charging And Discharging A Capacitor
  • Barry's Coilgun Design Site
  • PowerLabs Capacitive Discharge Experiments
  • The Known History of "Quarter Shrinking"

Sources

  • Ramasamy, Natarajan. "Power System Capacitors"
  • Willams, Henry Smith. "A history of Science, Volume II"
VIDEO: Check out revealing videos of electronics deconstructed and 6 fundamental VOIP videos. >>
Previous Page

Popular Tech Topics

The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How Capacitors Work
How Capacitors Work
How Cloud Computing Works
How Cloud Computing Works
Take a look at Computer Videos

You Might Also Like

How Speakers Work

In any sound system, ultimate quality depends on the speakers. The best recording, encoded on the most advanced storage device and played by a top-of-the-line deck and amplifier, will sound awful if the system is hooked up to poor speakers.

10 Myths About Video Games

Video games have been the stuff of legend ever since they took the world by storm in the early 1980s. In fact, the video game world is so insular that you'd have to be a dedicated gamer to even hear certain myths about them.

Popular Articles

  • How the Iqua VizorSUN Works
  • How Home Theater Works
  • How the Clover Coffee Maker Works
Inside this Article
  1. Introduction to How Capacitors Work
  2. Capacitor Circuit
  3. Farad
  1. History of the Capacitor
  2. Lots More Information
  3. See all Solid State Electronics articles
Previous Page

Popular Tech Videos

FPO
  • Cell Phone Tricks
  • Electronics Deconstructed
  • Ultimate Computer Hardware
  • How It's Made
  • Its All Geek To Me
  • See more»

New HSW Games

FPO
  • Storm Tracker
  • Memory Matrix
  • Crab Fishing Game
  • Volcano Explorer
  • Cannon Challenge
  • Speed Match
  • Lost in Migration
  • Word Bubbles
  • Color Match

Related Content

Prices: Capicators

  • US Stove C45699 Capacitor
    US Stove C45699 Capacitor

    US Stove has been bringing warmth to homes across the nation for 140-year. US Stove has a wide range of Automatic Circulators, Plate Steel Heaters, Cast Iron Heaters, Pellet/Multi-Fuel Heaters and Gas Fireplaces from which to choose. The large selection of stoves and accessories will ensure warmth of your home with safe, quality products.

    $21.25

  • Vanguard BC64M330 - Capacitor
    Vanguard BC64M330 - Capacitor

    This capacitor is a 330 VAC, 50/60HZ, 64-77 MFD and is 1 7/8" dia. x 3 3/8" long.

    $16.95

  • Capacitor 600w Wet
    Capacitor 600w Wet

    600W Wet Capacitor, 55 MFD/300 VAC MIN, for use with older model PowerHouse ballasts (Universal transformers). *Verify your transformer is a Universal by checking the label before ordering this capacitor. Universal is the manufacturer name. *for newer model PowerHouse Ballasts (Venture transformers), use BACPSD6 Replacement capacitors are available in a variety of wattages, brands and types. If we can help you select the proper item, please don't hesitate to contact your Hydrofarm sales representative.

    $10.55

HOWSTUFFWORKS
  • Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Home & Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
MORE STUFF
  • Blogs
  • Games
  • HSW Tools
  • RSS
  • Maps
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Newsletters
  • Video
OUR WEBSITES
  • Animal Planet
  • Consumer Guide Auto
  • Consumer Guide Products
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Fit & Health
  • HSW Brazil
  • HSW China HowStuffWorks China
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Oprah Winfrey Network
  • Planet Green
  • Science Channel
  • TLC
  • Discovery Education
  • Store
CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Help
CORPORATE
  • About Us
  • Careers @ Discovery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Visitor Agreement
TAKE US WITH YOU
FOLLOW US
© 1998-2012 HowStuffWorks, Inc