Is it possible to measure parasitic capacitance using digital multimeter?

Dan

For all practical purposes I'd say "no" as there are so many variables to consider when trying to do so, especially with an off the shelf multimeter.

duck you sucker!

In What? Not really. You can only see some if it is high, say, .2 uF or more on highest ohms scale. If it gives any momentary reading other than infinity on connection or on connection and reversal (works a little better); there is over .2 mf. An analog meter may do better. No gating time to block an instantaneous reading. You can see the needle move, then, back. The exact amount takes a capacitance meter. Only $39 on EBay. Some $300-plus Flukes have it built-in. Even then, this won't test at RF, if that is where your concern is. RF, especially microwaves ,will "see" a wire or cables much differently. EDIT: Tardis, I Don't believe U. If you bother to read my post and not take it out of context (as a Real tech would or eventually electrocute himself * ), you would See I said the the Effect of .2 mf or so or more In a circuit can be seen on hi ohms. I Never said :"Capacitance in Ohms". I Know it is in Farads . Only a wannabe troll would see my references and even think for a microsecond I did not know what units it was in. I have probably handled, and Made, more capacitors than you ever did. Hi voltage to 48 KV. * I did have an "apprentice" at Harris DTS for two weeks who was absolutely Clueless and jumped to conclusions, damaged PC board, fried circuits with No concern for the Smoke! He , also , I seriously doubted even graduated from tech school.

Anonymous

You need a capacitance meter.

Candid Chris

Have never used a digital multimeter so take this with a grain of salt. You possiblely can if you trust the accuracy of your meter. With an analog meter you can watch the stick sink or not. Do you have a Owners Manual for it? If not you may be able the find one online.

spacemissing

Absolutely No Way.

Fred

I think you would need a very sensitive capacitance tester on your multimeter. Likely other electronic components in the circuit would also affect the reading as to test capacitors you must remove them from the circuit. Stray capacitances can be a major problem in circuit design of some equipment.

M.

Not likely. Not easily, anyway.

Caitlin

No

FlagMichael

It depends on what sort of parasitic capacitance. If you mean ordinary stray capacitance from wiring, no. It can be used to look for (but not measure) electrolytic capacitors. Back when I worked in avionics and had to determine how far a wire went before it was open or shorted, we had a Sencore "Z meter" that measured down to picofarads and microhenries. 22 ga wire is about 20 pf per foot and about 0.1 uH per foot. It is very much specialty equipment, and I see some advertised on ebay for $300-$400.

TardisAndTheHare

Special meters can measure capacitance (including parasitic capacitance). Some capacitance exists by dint of charge layers (for example, when a transistor has power applied to it, charges build up between the junctions). So, some capacitance only exists when power is applied to the circuit. In that case, you can only measure it by its effect on the circuit (a meter won't do you much good). This capacitance can be seen in a hybrid pi model (called Miller capacitance).

don r

I'm going to come back and see what the answer is if others show it. I made a reply so that would be easy. Good luck.