I'm new to electronic and trying to measure a capacitor (Aluminum Electrolytic one) using a multimeter. The cap is already charged. What I did is to touch the positive leg of the cap with the red probe of the multimeter and the negative leg (the stripe side) with the black probe. To my surprise, it shows a minus sign preceding the volt number meaning that the side with stripe is positive. I tried three different caps with the same result. Why is that? Please kindly using some easy to understand explanations.
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1\$\begingroup\$ You connected red probe to Com, and black probe to the positive input? To the multimeter that is. \$\endgroup\$– MiNiMeCommented Oct 8, 2023 at 15:57
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\$\begingroup\$ @MiNiMe No, the black probe is connected to the Com. I didn't connect the probes to the meter the wrong way. \$\endgroup\$– preachersCommented Oct 8, 2023 at 16:11
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2\$\begingroup\$ Unless the multimeter is at fault, there's only one explanation left - the caps are charged the wrong way. \$\endgroup\$– MiNiMeCommented Oct 8, 2023 at 16:19
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\$\begingroup\$ @MiNiMe Oh, thanks! I didn't even think of that. I assumed that the caps don't allow a reverse charging at all. \$\endgroup\$– preachersCommented Oct 8, 2023 at 16:30
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3\$\begingroup\$ @preachers Maybe the cap isn't charged in reverse, but you are misreading which side is positive and negative? We don't know how the cap is charged and what does it look like. Post a photo to see if you are understanding the cap correctly. \$\endgroup\$– JustmeCommented Oct 8, 2023 at 17:00
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