Measuring inductors and capacitors

This chapter provides an overview of measuring inductors and capacitors. There are numerous methods discussed, such as voltage standing wave ratio method. The measurement of the values of inductors and capacitors at radio frequencies (RFs) differs somewhat from the same measurements at low frequencies. Although similarities exist, the RF measurement is a bit more complicated. One of the reasons for this situation is that stray or “distributed” inductance and capacitance values of the test set-up will affect the results. Another reason is that capacitors and inductors are not ideal components, but rather all capacitors have some inductance, and all inductors have capacitance.