I'm trying to determine if my Robert Murray-Smith E45 Strange Capacitor is in fact a capacitor at all. Does it exhibit super dielectric properties. I'm not so sure. But I don't really have the proper lab equipment to test this. I'm just using three multimeters and trying to interpret what I'm seeing on the displays.
Robert Murray-Smith Strange Capacitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=738Xz9xM_-8&t=799s

By Julian

Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado

18 thoughts on “E45 strange capacitor – strange behaviour”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jburdman7 says:

    Let the component tester decide what it is

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ExStatic Bass says:

    Might it help to add a frequency counter into the equation? Mind you I haven't really checked the resistance of one of those in use though I'm curious now. Unfortunately I don't have a frequency counter anymore so I can't try it myself. My O-scope died a while ago too which also might have introduced some odd quirks. Either way this is incredibly interesting.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ttkoh123 says:

    Knowledge of manufacturer qualifying test frequency is necessary, the missing key element here. They call it impedance not resistance.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Techy (new account kasamikona) says:

    OL stands for open line 🙂 (or so I've been told…)

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Moses Tewelde says:

    Do you like these multimeters? I am in the market for multimeters and I am looking at the Brymen meters.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ForeverMods says:

    Methodical, very comprehensive and OCD. That's why I love your videos 🙂 Kudos Julian !!

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars gene mayne says:

    Hi,i ,I have 2 x 100 what 12 volt panels and i want to grid tie them i live in the uk ,but no idea what
    sort specs do i need to look when buying a grid tie inverter can you tell me gene

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dharmesh Solanki says:

    in my multimeater, a 900 ohm resister blow up and i can't find another 900 ohm to replace that. can someone help me….😣😭

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bob s says:

    If a capacitor goes short circuit, is it really short or has its capacitance increased to infinity?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jim's Mind says:

    I'm confused what you're trying to do?! Is ESR what you're trying to measure?
    You could easily hack a power logger together with an INA219 and measure it charging and discharging over time. The ESR is the losses caused by resistance of leads and conductivity of the electrolyte allowing charge to leak through I think?

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lau Ernebjerg Josefsen says:

    There is running a current. The current is through the multimeter measuring voltage, and the multimeter is not connected across the multimeter measuring amps.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Silver Legend says:

    Julian – an oscilloscope across the meter set to read capacitance would give an idea of how the thing determines capacitance – maybe!

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Holbrook says:

    your a mad man

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Leslie Pieterse says:

    E45, shake before use 🙂

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Murray says:

    O.L. stands for Over Limit Or Out of Limit.   Just thought you would like to know!  
    Very interesting things you look at,  that most of us just say "That's just  the way it works".
    Keep up the fun Videos!!!!!!!

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars saabcrow says:

    Robert Murray-Smith is clearly a charlatan.

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James A. McGuire says:

    Hi Julian. OL doesn't stand for 'overload' it stands for 'Open Loop'. On some DMMs you see OC which stands for 'Open Circuit'

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars d3xdrive says:

    Julian:

    Thanks for your many videos.

    There are many comments both positive and negative, right and wrong here already. I think there are many positives in this video (showing that having a handful of multimeters is good, measuring properties of a multimeter with a multimeter, etc). But I think one thing is clear:

    The rising and falling behaviour seen when one meter is in the 20M+ range is surely due to the lack of shielding/guarding, and more specifically with your hands moving in the vicinity of the capacitor.

    Meters which claim to make accurate high (> 10 MOhm) resistance measurements usually have a very high impedance input (> 1 GOhm). These inputs will, for lack of a better description, suck up any stray charge in the environment and register it. This can usually be seen by hooking up multimeter leads and just letting them sit. My multimeters will climb all the way out of the microvolt ranges, through the millivolt ranges, up into the 2 volt range. That said, I'm not sure the time to correct these experimental set-ups are worth it unless you have meters that can measure higher up into the megaohm range.

    Thanks again!

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