Shorted capacitor terminals on a board?

[mtl777]

Hey guys, sorry for this newbie question. Is it possible to have a good working circuit in which the (+) and (-) terminals of a capacitor are shorted? I'm wondering because a board that I'm working on has a capacitor whose terminals are shorted when I check with the DMM, but I can't see any visible traces connecting the (+) and (-) terminals. I don't have a schematic and will have to remove a LOT of components to be able to trace the circuit, which I wouldn't want to do, and besides, the board is double layered and difficult to trace.

Even when I remove the capacitor and check for continuity between the two holes where the capacitor was soldered, I find that they are shorted. I'm wondering if I accidentally shorted something else in the circuit that is causing this capacitor to short. It seems strange to me, but then I am new to this. I would be more than happy to know that this is possible and is normal on some circuits.

Your help would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

[lanchile]

Did you check around the cap if there is a transformer near by? I say this because sometimes there are many parts that when you read a cap you are reading something else in the circuit too. Just take the cap out and read the cap for short not where the cap was.

[mtl777]

Originally Posted by lanchile

Did you check around the cap if there is a transformer near by? I say this because sometimes there are many parts that when you read a cap you are reading something else in the circuit too. Just take the cap out and read the cap for short not where the cap was.

Yes, there is a transformer nearby. I checked the cap, taken out of the board, and it has no short. The two holes where the cap was are the ones that are shorted. So this is alright?

[lanchile]

Originally Posted by mtl777

Yes, there is a transformer nearby. I checked the cap, taken out of the board, and it has no short. The two holes where the cap was are the ones that are shorted. So this is alright?

Yes, it is all right!. you were reading something else like the transformer or something else in the circuit.That is why I always check the caps out of boards or just unsolder one leg from board and test them. I use an ESR meter (creative Electronics) it is one of the best and accurate machine to check for dry caps.

[lanchile]

This is my ESR meter. http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/creative/esr

[mtl777]

Originally Posted by lanchile

Yes, it is all right!. you were reading something else like the transformer or something else in the circuit.That is why I always check the caps out of boards or just unsolder one leg from board and test them. I use an ESR meter (creative Electronics) it is one of the best and accurate machine to check for dry caps.

That's really good to know, and gives me a great sigh of relief! Thank you so much!!

[lanchile]

Originally Posted by mtl777

That's really good to know, and gives me a great sigh of relief! Thank you so much!!

I am glad I could help you.Take care.