CAPACITOR IN AC CIRCUIT

1. OBJECTIVES:
Determine the total capacitance, capacitive reactance, and be able to explain in detail the operation of
capacitors connected in series and in parallel across an AC power supply.

2. CIRCUITS
CIRCUIT A CIRCUIT B

CIRCUIT C CIRCUIT D

3. LIST OF EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS

3 – 4.7uF / 50V Capacitors - Multisim / Live

1 – Incandescent Lamp 12V/1W

4. PROCEDURES

4.1 (Circuit A) Measure the current of one 4.7uF capacitor supplied with 12Vac. Tabulate the result.
I (current 10.836mA (Continuous)
I(p-p) 42.597mA
I(rms) 15.083mA
I(dc) -22.353fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz

4.2 9Circuit A) Measure the current of two 4.7uF capacitors connected in series with 12Vac supply.

Tabulate the result.

I (current -10.342mA (Continuous)

I(p-p) 29.299mA
I(rms) 7.5416mA
I(dc) -11.175fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz

4.3 (Circuit A) Measure the current of three 4.7uF capacitors connected in series with 12Vac supply.

Tabulate the result.

I (current 5.6785mA (Continuous)
I(p-p) 14.199mA
I(rms) 5.0277mA
I(dc) -6.4248fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz
4.4 (Circuit A) Determine the capacitive reactance of steps 4.1 to 4.3. With power supply at 60Hz.

Tabulate the result. (Series connected capacitors) Xc = 1 / 2πfC

Xc=1/2πfC
1/2x3.4x0.60x4.7C
4.7(1) 0.00056Ω
4.7(2) 0.00028Ω
4.7(3) 0.00019Ω

4.5 Construct Circuit B, measure the current. Tabulate the result. Did the lamp glow? Determine the

I(current 2.8670mA
(Continuous)
I(p-p) 14.217mA
I(rms) 5.0276mA
I(dc) 90.894fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz
Yes but the light bulb is too deam because the hz is too low.

resistance of the lamp. R lamp = 2386.82Ω and Total Impedance Z= 2386.82 Ω

4.6 (Circuit C) Repeat steps 4.2 and 4.3 with capacitors connected in parallel. Tabulate the results.
Two Capacitors
I(p-p) 85.283mA
I(rms) 30.166mA
I(dc) 33.706fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz
Three
I(p-p) 127.92mA
I(rms) 45.250mA
I(dc) 48.224fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz

4.7 Determine the capacitive reactance of step 4.6. Tabulate the results. Xc = 1 / 2πfC
Two capacitors Three capacitors
0.00028 Ω 0.00019 Ω

4.8 (Circuit D) Connect an incandescent lamp in series with the capacitors in parallel, measure the

current. Tabulate the result. Did the lamp glow? Determine the resistance of the bulb?

R lamp =265.98 Ω and Impedance Z = 265.98 Ω

Three Capacitors
I(p-p) 127.52mA
I(rms) 45.117mA
I(dc) -57.733fA
I(freq) 60.000Hz
Yes but the light bulb is too deam because the hz is too low.
 4.9 Re-compute the step 4.4 and 4.7 with input frequency at 1 KHz. Tabulate the result.

CAPACITOR SERIES CONNECTED PARALLEL CONNECTED

4.7Uf / 50V CT IC / mA XC / Ω CT IC / mA XC / Ω
@60Hz @ 1KHz @60Hz @1KHz
1 pc. 4.7uF 15.083mA 0.00056Ω 0.000034Ω 4.7uF 15.083mA 0.00056Ω 0.000034Ω
2 pcs. 9.4 uF 7.5416mA 0.00028Ω 0.000017Ω 9.4 uF 30.166mA 0.00028Ω 0.000017Ω
3 pcs. 14.1 uF 5.0277mA 0.00019Ω 0.000011Ω 14.1 uF 45.250mA 0.00019Ω 0.000011Ω
3 pcs. w/o 14.1 uF 5.0277mA Z =2386.78 Z=144.93 14.1 uF 45.250mA Z =266.13 Z=15.91
lamp
3 pcs. w/ 14.1 uF 5.0276mA Z =2386.82 Z=144.65 14.1 uF 45.117mA Z =265.98 Z=25.84
lamp

5. CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Explain in detail your observation in steps 4.4 and 4.7 (Capacitive Reactance).
4.4 and 4.7 is the same formula on computation and the result is also the same but the difference is in 4.4 i
calculate all 3 capacitors but in 4.7 i only calculate 2 &3 capacitors.
5.3 Explain in detail the effect of increasing the input frequency from 60Hz to 1 KHz to the Capacitive

Reactance and Impedance of capacitors in series and in parallel.

The higher the frequency of the applied voltage, the larger the capacitor's reactive or impedance,

because it is in parallel with an increasing amount of inductive reactance. This reduces the current

flow through the circuit at high frequencies. If the frequency of the applied voltage rises in this series

circuit, the inductive reactance will rise as well, increasing the voltage drop across the inductor

because it makes up a larger proportion of the circuit's overall impedance.

5.2 Explain in detail the circuit characteristics of capacitors in AC circuit when connected in series and in

parallel.

Because the capacitors are parallel linked, they all have the same voltage V across their plates. Each

capacitor in the parallel network, however, may hold a distinct charge.