pb1592

Hi,

I have a circuit that requires a 22mfd 100 volt cap. I only have 22mfd 35 volt caps on hand, so I wanted to know if it would be ok to place THREE of the 35 volt 22mfd caps in SERIAL to achieve this. I assume that would be the same as placing a single 22mfd, 105 volt cap?

Thanks!

-Brian

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

No - you'd end up with a 7.33 uF cap, with the voltage rating really depending on just how much leakage current, etc. the caps have.

You'd be better off buying a higher voltage 22uF cap.

Lnewqban

pb1592,

To achieve an addition of capacitances, you have to connect the capacitors in parallel instead of in series.
It sounds ilogical, but they act the opposite than resistances.

However, each one of your capacitors would be under a tension of 100 volts, for which they have not been designed.

Copied from this site, which shows the formulaes:

http://www.tpub.com/neets/book2/3e.htm

"The total capacitance of capacitors in series is less than the capacitance of any of the individual capacitors."

"For capacitors connected in parallel the total capacitance is the sum of all the individual capacitances. Connecting capacitors in parallel effectively increases plate area and thereby increases total capacitance."

pb1592

Thanks for the info, appreciate it