Standard values for capacitors and resistors

Just like most passive components, capacitors come in standard values. These values are based on a geometric series, commonly referred to as the E series. Although it is practically possible to produce a component of nearly any capacitance value, manufacturers use preferred values for ease of manufacturing passive components. Apart from defining values for passive components, this system, based on progressive ratios, specifies recommended tolerances. Standardisation of component values allows manufacturers of passive components such as capacitors, resistors, and inductors to manufacturer components with ease.

The preferred number series (E series)

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) defined the preferred number series in 1952 with the aim of enabling manufacturers to produce passive components more easily. The E series defines capacitance and resistance values as well as tolerances for capacitors and resistors. These standard values are published in the IEC standards, IEC 60063:1963 and IEC 60063:2015. Whereas the IEC 60063 defines the preferred values and tolerances, the IEC 60062 defines marking codes for capacitors and resistors. The E series has been adopted by various international standard organizations including the Electrical Industries Association (EIA).

The sizes, colour codes, and values of passive components are based on international standards. There are many benefits of standardisation of component values. Since the preferred number series uses a logarithmic scale with spaces that are approximately equal, it limits the values of components that manufacturers are required to produce. Moreover, standardisation of component ensures compatibility of components. As such, engineers are not limited to components from a specific manufacturer. They can get compatible capacitors and resistors from any suitable manufacturer.

The E series defines preferred values for the capacitance of capacitors and resistance of resistors as well as recommended tolerances. This series is essential for the coding and marking of capacitors and resistors. On the other hand, the IEC 60062 standardises coding and marking for capacitors and resistors. The E series is derived from progressive ratios of nth root of 10, where n=2ix3 and i is a whole number (0-6). The value n specifies the number of elements in a decade. For instance, the E12 series has 12 elements per decade while the E48 series has 48 elements per decade.

The E24, E12, E6, and E3 series

The values of the E24 series are obtained by rounding the theoretical numbers of the geometric series (with n=24).It is important to note that some values of the E24 series deviate from the mathematical rule. The values of the E12 series are obtained by omitting every second term of the E24 series. Similarly, the values of the E6 series are obtained by omitting every second term of the E12 series. Lastly, the values of the E3 series are obtained by omitting every second term of the E6 series. Table 1 shows the values of the E24, E12, E6 and E3 series.

Tolerances for capacitor and resistor values

Unlike resistance, capacitor values are usually defined in two significant digits. It is, therefore, not common to apply the E48, E96, and E192 series and recommended tolerances. In most cases, capacitor manufacturers use tighter tolerances for these passive components. It is common for capacitor manufacturers to use a tolerance of ±1% with E24 values.

Resistors are produced in standard values to simplify manufacturing, purchasing, handling, and designing processes. The preferred number series produces a spacing that relates component values to their tolerances. For conventional resistors, the tolerances are ±20% (E6), ±10% (E12), ±5% (E24), ±2% (E48), and ±1% (E96). Some manufacturers produce resistors with more accurate tolerances at a higher cost. For resistors, the E96 and E192 series are less used. Table 3 below shows the number of values per decade and tolerances for the E3, E6, E12, E24, E48, E96, and E192 series.

To obtain non-standard capacitance and resistance values, passive components are usually combined in series and/or in parallel. In most electronic systems, complex combinations of capacitors are used to meet the specific requirements of a circuit. For applications that require specific capacitance such as tuning, capacitors that allow manual or electrical adjustment of capacitance are used.