Capacitor Calculator – Find Series and Parallel Capacitance
Calculate the total capacitance for a set of capacitors in series or parallel using the calculator below.
Total Capacitance:
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Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
How to Calculate Capacitors in Parallel
A capacitor is a device that adds capacitance to an electrical circuit. Capacitance is measured in Farads (F), and it is the ability of an electrical circuit to store a charge.
When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is equal to all of the values added up. This is equivalent to having a single larger capacitor in the circuit.
Parallel Capacitor Formula
When multiple capacitors are connected in parallel, you can find the total capacitance using this formula.
CT = C1 + C2 + … + Cn
So, the total capacitance of capacitors connected in parallel is equal to the sum of their values.
How to Calculate Capacitors in Series
When capacitors are connected in series, on the other hand, the total capacitance is less than the sum of the capacitor values. In fact, it’s equal to less than any single capacitor value in the circuit.
Capacitors connected in series are equivalent to a single capacitor with a larger spacing between the plates. You can learn more about this with our parallel plate capacitance calculator.
Series Capacitor Formula
When multiple capacitors are added to a circuit in series, you can find the total capacitance using this formula.
1 / CT = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2 + … + 1 / Cn
Thus, the reciprocal of the total capacitance of a set of capacitors connected in parallel is equal to the sum of the reciprocal of the capacitance of each one.
These formulas are the inverse of those used to calculate the resistance for circuits with resistors in series and parallel.