Capacitors in series behave like resistors in parallel: the total is smaller than the smallest one. Series connection raises the voltage rating – useful for high-voltage banks and supercapacitor packs.
How to use the Capacitors in Series Calculator
- Capacitor 1
- Capacitor 2
- Capacitor 3
- Capacitor 4
- Capacitor 5
- Capacitor 6
- Capacitor 7
- Capacitor 8
- Capacitor 9
- Capacitor 10
- Applied voltage (optional)
Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
Enter the capacitances (leave unused fields at 0) and optionally the applied voltage.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Capacitor 1 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 2 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 3 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 4 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 5 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 6 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 7 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 8 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 9 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Capacitor 10 | Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, F |
| Applied voltage (optional) | Units: V, mV, kV, µV, MV |
Example values
How the main result changes when Capacitor 1 changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Capacitor 1 (µF) | Total capacitance (µF) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3.7491 |
| 7.5 | 4.9984 |
| 10 | 5.9977 |
| 12.5 | 6.8152 |
| 15 | 7.4964 |
| 20 | 8.5667 |
Formula
1/C_total = Σ 1/C_i, Q = C_total·V, V_i = Q/C_i
Worked example
Inputs — Capacitor 1: 10 µF; Capacitor 2: 22 µF; Capacitor 3: 47 µF; Capacitor 4: 0 µF; Capacitor 5: 0 µF; Capacitor 6: 0 µF; Capacitor 7: 0 µF; Capacitor 8: 0 µF; Capacitor 9: 0 µF; Capacitor 10: 0 µF; Applied voltage (optional): 12 V.
Results — Total capacitance = 5.99768 µF; Charge on each capacitor = 71.97216 µC; Voltage across C1 = 7.1972 V; Voltage across C2 = 3.2715 V; Voltage across C3 = 1.5313 V.
Key terms
- Series connection
- Components connected end to end.
Frequently asked questions
Is series capacitance larger or smaller?
Smaller than the smallest capacitor.
Why connect capacitors in series?
To increase the voltage rating.
Do all capacitors have the same charge?
Yes – in series, Q is the same for all.
Why add balancing resistors?
Leakage differences can unbalance the voltages.