Decode polyester capacitor color bands instantly with this free Polyester Capacitor Color Code Calculator. Identify capacitance, tolerance, voltage rating, and capacitor values for electronics repair, PCB design, manufacturing, engineering, and education.
100nF 250V film capacitor (5-Band)
Decodes as Brown (1), Black (0), Yellow (x10,000 multiplier), Green (±5% tolerance), Red (250V working limit).
22nF Signal coupling (4-Band)
Decodes as Red (2), Red (2), Orange (x1,000 multiplier), and Red (250V working limit). Common in preamplifier stages.
47nF Mylar Capacitor
Yellow (4), Violet (7), Orange (x1,000 multiplier) with a trailing tolerance. Frequently used to filter noise spikes.
High-Voltage Damper
Uses 630V (Blue voltage band) to suppress AC grid line harmonics and absorb voltage transients safely.
Polyester film capacitors (often referred to as Mylar or "chiclet" capacitors) feature a dielectric layer made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film interleaved with metal foil electrodes.
Because their outer epoxy casing is rounded and smooth, color bands are printed horizontally. Read the bands starting from the very top of the capacitor body down towards the radial leads.
Printed text on thin polyester film is susceptible to smudging and degradation from heat during soldering. Color bands run entirely around the circumference, remaining readable from any angle.
Mylar is a registered brand name for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. They refer to the same polyester dielectric structure, offering high insulation resistance.
On 4-band Polyester capacitors, the fourth band indicates the working voltage instead of tolerance. It defaults to baseline low-voltage limits unless specified by the manufacturer.
No, polyester film capacitors are non-polarized components. They can be connected in either direction inside AC or DC electrical circuit networks.
Polyester Capacitor Color Code Calculator is a free online calculator tool. Use it to get instant, accurate results for your electronics calculations.