How To Calculate Capacitors In Series And Parallel

Capacitors in Parallel

When capacitors are connected across each other (side by side) this is called a parallel connection. This is shown below.how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_1 To calculate the total overall capacitance of a number of capacitors connected in this way you add up the individual capacitances using the following formula: CTotal = C1 + C2 + C3 and so on Example: To calculate the total capacitance for these three capacitors in parallel. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_2 CTotal = C1 + C2 + C3 = 10F + 22F + 47F = 79F
 

Task 1:

Calculate the total capacitance of the following capacitors in parallel. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_3

Capacitors in Series

When capacitors are connected one after each other this is called connecting in series. This is shown below. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_4 To calculate the total overall capacitance of two capacitors connected in this way you can use the following formula:
Ctotal =  C1 x C2  and so on
 C1 + C2
Example: To calculate the total capacitance for these two capacitors in series. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_5
 

Task 2:

Calculate the total capacitance of the following capacitors in series. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_6

Three or more capacitors in series

how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_7 To calculate the total overall capacitance of three or more capacitors connected in this way you can use the following formula: how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_8 and so on. Example: To calculate the total capacitance for these three capacitors in series. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_9
 

Task 3:

Calculate the total capacitance of the following capacitors in series. how_to_calculate_capacitors_in_series_and_parallel_10
 

Answers

Task 1

1 = 232.2F 2 = 169.0F 3 = 7.0F

Task 2

1 = 2.48F 2 = 14.99F 3 = 4.11F

Task 3

1 = 3.33F 2 = 1.167F 3 = 0.35F Note The capacitor values in this worksheet have been kept high (close to or greater than one). This is to simplify the learning experience. In reality typical capacitor values are much smaller than one.   Download a pdf version of this page here. pdf_icon.gif Learn more about the author If you found this article helpful and you would like to receive product updates and free electronic resources from us then sign up here. We hate spam too and promise to never sell or share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Kitronik's suggested additional learning

Understanding Ceramic Disc Capacitor Values featured image

Ceramic disc capacitors markings are a two or three digit value, this tutorial explains how to use the code to determine the capacitance in Farads.

30 comments

pius official

pius official

Good tasks they have helped me

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

Thanks Benjamin!

Benjamin mading

Benjamin mading

This site has been helpful to many of us. Thanks kitronik!

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

Hi, we don't have a guide showing this at the moment, but it is something we should add. You have guessed correctly how to calculate the total capacitance for your circuit. I hope this helped.

Trish

Trish

Do you have any tasks worked out with similar images as shown above? I am trying to figure out this same problem. I have two capacitors parallel to each other but also in a series with one other capacitor. Would I add the two in parallel and then use that number in the equation for the series? Any advice is helpful thank you!!

Precious E

Precious E

This has really helped me so thanks a lot

Mustapha Abubakar

Mustapha Abubakar

I LIKE THIS CALCULATION SO MUCH

Vijay

Vijay

Very good information thank you kitronik

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

Hi Emmanuel, You can work out the capacitance of each of the areas individually and then work out how to find the total capacitance, the method would be determined by how the different areas are arranged in relation to each other. They may be in series with each other or in parallel. I hope this helps.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

How do I work out capacitors connected in both parallel and series

james mcgahan

james mcgahan

this is a very useful tool for my studies in electrical fundamentals. thanks

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

Hi Kean, there is still one more step of your calculation left to do, you need to divide 1 by 3 and then you will have your answer for C total. Hope this helps.

Kean Sakata

Kean Sakata

The formula for series capacitance does not work for 1F. If you add 1+1+1 you get 3F instead of .333F. Please explain.

Virat kohli

Virat kohli

Very very helpful site I like it.. Being a student of class 10th I understood it to how to solve the question of series and parallel combinations of conductors..

Mufti

Mufti

I love this Site. Thank you very much, i am going to write exams. now my problem on capacitors has been solved totally. thank you once again

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

This may be something that we produce a resource for at some point but for now, try google as there is already a lot of information on this online.

mbasinya Markus

mbasinya Markus

I need more explanation about COULOUMBS LAW OF ELECLECTROSTATICS, and ITS CALCULATION.

Aloice Amboso

Aloice Amboso

I like this site it really help me

Lilian

Lilian

Awwnnn….it really amazing it helps alot.

Auwal idris

Auwal idris

wow!! i really luv this site it is very helpfull.

olubowale olajumoke

olubowale olajumoke

My problem on capacitor are solve

Samweli Masalu

Samweli Masalu

Hi i like this calculation of series and parallel

Mark Donnison

Mark Donnison

Hi Douglas, The calculation examples will work regardless of the values of the individual capacitors.

Douglas West

Douglas West

Hi, It appears that your examples deal only in capacitors of varying capacitance. It would be useful to include examples of identical capacitors connected in series and parallel. Series Connected Identical Capacitors….. Total Capacitance= Nominated Capacitance divided by Total number of Capacitors. EG.. 3000 Farad ÷(X5 in series), …3000F/5=600F. Parrallel Connected Identical Capacitors…… Total Capacitance=Nominated Capacitance Times Total Number of Capacitors………. 3000Farad X (X5 in parallel)…3000FX5=15,000F Does away with all the “Long Division Nonsense”

Rob Haywood

Rob Haywood

Hi, The voltage would remain the same. Rob

Haruna Ibrahim

Haruna Ibrahim

The explanation is clear, but what about the working voltage of two capacitors in parallel? Does it remains the same or individual capacitor voltage rating is added up. Suppose both capacitors are the same working voltage rating

Belko King Solomon

Belko King Solomon

this explanation is simple and easy to understand and like it.

Arne Risy

Arne Risy

So far this is the only explanation I've been able to understand. Thanks

Rob Haywood

Rob Haywood

Thanks, I've corrected that now!

k

k

i think task 3 is suppose to be 1.167F not 1.67F

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