Amiraj collage of

engineering and
technology
ELEMENT OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
TOPIC -series and parallel
connection of capaciter
YEAR-(2015-2016)
Prepered by-
Bhavya h. sanghavi
E.no.-151080106024 Guided by-
 Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
• Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a
number of capacitors connected in
series or in parallel.
• Determine the charge and voltage across
any chosen capacitor in a network
when given capacitances and the
externally applied potential difference.
 Electrical Circuit Symbols
Electrical circuits often contain two or more
capacitors grouped together and attached to an
energy source, such as a battery.
The following symbols are often used:
Ground Battery Capacitor
+ -

+ - + - + -
- + -
+ -
+ -
 Series Circuits
Capacitors or other devices connected
along a single path are said to be
connected in series. See circuit below:

Series connection
+ - + - + -
+ - + - + - of capacitors. “+
C1 C3 to
C2
– to + …”
Battery Charge inside
dots is induced.
Charge on Capacitors in Series
Since inside charge is only induced, the
charge on each capacitor is the same.

Q3
Q1 Q2 Charge is same:
+ - + - + -
+ - + - + - series connection
C1 C3 of capacitors.
C2
Battery
Q = Q1 = Q2 =Q3
 Voltage on Capacitors in
Series
Since the potential difference between points
A and B is independent of path, the battery
voltage V must equal the sum of
the voltages across each capacitor.

V1 V2 V3
Total voltage V
+ - + - + -
+ - + - + - Series connection
C1 C3 Sum of voltages
C2
•A Battery
•
B
V = V1 + V 2 + 3
V
 Equivalent Capacitance:
Series
V1 V2 V3 Q
+ - + - + - C ; V 
+ - + - + - Q
V
C1 C2 C3 C
Q1= Q2 = Q3 V = V1 +VQ
2 +
2 V3 Q3

Q Q1
 C2 C3
C

1 1 1 1 C1 1 n
Ce  C1 C2 C3 Ce  
i1 Ci
Equivalent Ce 1
Short Cut: Two Series Capacitors
The equivalent capacitance Ce for two series
capacitors is the product divided by the sum.
C1C2
1 1 1 Ce 
Ce  C1  C2 ; C1  2
C
Example:
(3 F)(6 F)
C1 Ce  3 F 
2
+C - + -
+ - + - 6 F
3 F 6 F Ce = 2 F
 Parallel Circuits
Capacitors which are all connected to the
same source of potential are said to be
connected in parallel. See below:

Parallel capacitors: Voltages:

“+ to +; - to -” V T = V 1 = V2 = V 3
C1 C2 C3
+
+

+
+

+
+

Charges:
- - - -
QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q 3
- -
Equivalent Capacitance: Parallel
Parallel capacitors Q
in Parallel:
C ; Q
CV V
C C C Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
+
+

+
+

+
+
1 2
- - - - 3
- - Equal Voltages:
CV = C1V1 + C2V2 +
C3V3
Equivalent Ce n
Ce = C1 + C2 + for capacitors
C3
Ce   Ci
in parallel:
i1
 Example 1. Find the equivalent capacitance
of the three capacitors connected in parallel
with a 24-V battery.
n VT = V1 = V2 = V3
Ce Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
parallel: Ce  
for i1 Ci
24 V C
C C2
Ce = (2 + 4 + 6) F 3
1
2 F 4 F 6 F
Ce = 12 F

Note that the equivalent capacitance Ce for

capacitors in parallel is always greater than the
largest in the circuit. (12 F > 6 F)
 Example 1 (Cont.) Find the total charge QT
and charge across each capacitor.

Q = Q1 + Q2 + Ce = 12 F
Q3
24 V C
C C2 V1 = V2 = V3 = 24
1 3
2 F 4 F F V
6 Q
C ; Q
V CV
Q T = C eV Q1 = (2 F)(24 V) = 48 C
QT = (12 F)(24 V) Q1 = (4 F)(24 V) = 96 C
QT = 288 C Q1 = (6 F)(24 V) = 144 C
Summary: Series Circuits
1 1 Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3

Ce V = V1 + V2 + V3
i1 Ci

For two capacitors at a time:

C1C2
Ce 
C1  2
C
 Summary: Parallel Circuits

n Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3

Ce   Ci V = V1 = V2 =V3
i1

For complex circuits, reduce the circuit in steps

using the rules for both series and parallel
connections until you are able to solve problem.
THANK
YOU