Determining Internal Connections in Capacitors

Simple electrical test shows which terminals connected to outer capacitor foil. Test makes it unnecessary to resort to X-ray inspection to distinguish terminals. When outer foil of capacitor is attached to ungrounded signal-generator output lead, oscilloscope displays higher waveform amplitude. When outer foil is joined to grounded signalgenerator output lead, waveform amplitude is lower. Test also used to determine internal connections in multiple-element capacitors.