Charge Measurement Instrument

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrometer

One farad is the value of capacitance that produces a potential of one volt when it has been charged by one coulomb. A coulomb is equal to the amount of charge (electrons) produced by a current of one ampere flowing for one second.

The reference physical quantity is the Coulomb and the current is defined as Coulomb/time exactly the contrary of what you wrote.

But you gave a hint to the OP how he could measure its charge.

I doubt that he will use it.

Coulomb = Amp x Time NO?

As I wrote the Ampere is defined as a Coulomb/second. The basic unit is the Coulomb.

From equation point of view of course it can be used in both directions.

Yes of course.

I'd like to understand how this device is almost different from a capacitor....

Same here.

What you describe IS a capacitor! I see NO special feature which would justify the word "like".

As far as I know (but fortunately I do not know all) you cannot measure charge directly but you could with available devices define the charge via measurements of other parameters.

Is this one of those newfangled Leyden Jars?

That guy is just plain nuts...storing energy...pfft! Whatever...

I suppose you follow those nuts Faraday and Clark too....hogwash, I tells ya!!!

_{^{I am working on a new device which uses amber and silk to store charge...ssssh...don't tell!}}

Since this is a flux capacitor, you will need a (1) flux voltmeter (otherwise known as a voltmeter or potentiometer), and (2) a flux current meter (otherwise known as an ammeter, not an anteater).

If I have to explain how to make the connections, or what the upper voltage limitations are, then you are not qualified to be playing with such a device, and will need to return it to the storage locker at Area 51.

Since you are making this device yourself, make the tester also. Put a load on the device and time how long it takes to fully discharge. Then change the dope you are using ( the dieelectric) and try again

Good luck, have fun, don't die

Multimeter and a calculator:

http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Capacitance

He wants to measure the "charge" and not the "capacitance".

Since the OP stated "...The device is almost like a big capacitor ie it have two plates at differnent potentials and r being seprated using dielectric medium" I had to infer and extrapolate for myself.

If you would have checked the link I provided, you would see that the first step provides charge, in Coulombs.

I provided a link with steps and measuring instruments to use...just like the OP asked. I didn't just provide theory and technical corrections to other posts which would probably confuse them anyway...

Inderpal,

Most of Multi-meters available in the market can measure Capacitance and DC Voltage.

Measure capacitance of your device, say = C Farad.

Measure voltage across terminals after storing the charge, say =V volts.

Charge Q = C multiply V.

Units of charge calculated shall be in Coulomb

If your device is with single terminal then place it on some insulator (say dry wood), store your charge and measure DC voltage between the charging terminal and the Can or Body of the vessel of your device.

A word of Caution: Such device can build up any level of Static Voltage - which can reach dangerous level.

In case you are trying to store static charge from clouds, by keeping your device on roof top and projecting a solid conductor out with sharp pointer on top edge, be careful, the voltage build up due to charge can reach a dangerous level.

Further, I do not know how big is this device, if you forget your big device on roof and next cloud is of different polarity, then there can be flashover like a lightning strike - do experiment or play with electricity if you please understand it fully.

Shunt your device with Metal Oxide Varister (MOV) if you want to keep voltage to low level say up to 1000V DC.

For higher voltage use calibrated sphere gap.

Best of luck

define your own

C(F) = q(C) / U(V)

charging the C through series R ::
⌂t → dt = R·C·ln[(U_SUP - U_C.0)/(U_SUP - U_C.1)] =
= R·C·ln( U_R@t.0/U_R@t.1)

discharging the C through series R ::
⌂t → dt = R·C·ln( U_C.0/U_C.1)

p(N/m²)=[(ε - 1)/(8·¶·k)]·E²

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