Parallel & Series

Capacitances
 Connecting capacitances in parallel is
equivalent to adding the plate areas.
Therefore, the total capacitance is the
Parallel sum of the individual capacitances.

Capacitances
 A 10-microFarad capacitor in parallel
with a 5-microFarad capacitor, for
example, provides a 15-microFarad
Parallel capacitance for the parallel
combination.
Capacitances The voltage is the same across the
parallel capacitors.
 Note that adding parallel
capacitances is opposite to
inductances in parallel and resistances
Parallel in parallel.

Capacitances
Series Capacitances
 Connecting capacitances in series is
equivalent to increasing the thickness
of the dielectric.

Therefore, the combined capacitance

Series Capacitances is less than the smallest individual
value.
 The combined equivalent capacitance
is calculated by the reciprocal formula:

Series Capacitances
 Any of the shortcut calculations for the
reciprocal formula apply.

For example,the combined capacitance

of two equal capacitances of 10
Series Capacitances microFarad in series is 5 microFarad.
 Capacitors are used in series to
provide a higher working voltage
rating for the combination.

For instance, each of three equal

Series Capacitances capacitances in series has one-third
the applied voltage.