Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
Combine up to four capacitors. Leave unused values at 0.
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Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator works
Enter the capacitances in microfarads and use 0 for unused slots.
In parallel, capacitances add.
In series, the reciprocals add, so the total is smaller than the smallest capacitor.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| C1 (µF) | 10 |
|---|---|
| C2 (µF) | 22 |
| C3 (µF) | 47 |
| C4 (µF, 0 = unused) | 0 |
- Parallel: 10 + 22 + 47 = 79.00 µF.
- Series: 1 ÷ (1/10 + 1/22 + 1/47) = 5.9977 µF.
Result:
| Parallel total (µF) | 79.0000 |
|---|---|
| Series total (µF) | 5.9977 |
Frequently asked questions
Is this the opposite of resistors?
Yes. Capacitors add in parallel and combine by reciprocals in series, the reverse of resistors.
What happens to the voltage rating?
In series the voltage is shared, so the rating can increase if the capacitors are matched. In parallel the rating is limited by the lowest-rated capacitor.
Sources and further reading
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