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How to calculate voltage of capacitors in series?

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wesspower

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capacitor in series

For example, I have 2 capacitors , these two cap are in series, capacitance will be
(C1+C2)/2, what about working voltage ? and break down voltage ? The working voltage for both capacitors are the same. let's say it is 10V.

Thank you
 

capacitor in series

I think the voltage at the intersection of the 2 capacitors is floating
 

Re: capacitor in series

The resulting value (uF) of the network works as predicted.

Theoretically, you should get double the WV. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in the real world.

It is a problem of balance. If there are any differences between the characteristics of the two caps (always) the center point will shift accordingly. This is an age-old problem with caps and is much more pronounced with aluminum electrolytic caps.

Even the best caps are pretty bad compared to the theory.

In Aluminum Electrolytics (AEs), the electrolyte deteriorates without applied voltage and is refreshed when forward voltage is applied. Tantalum caps also heal to some extent as well. If this is not exactly synchronized in two caps in series, one cap will see the full network voltage. If this network voltage is above the working voltage of one of the caps, it's cleanup time. (If you haven't cleaned up after an aluminum cap breakdown failure, you don't want to. I have also been burned by pieces of exploding Tantalum caps 5 feet way! Tantalums typically burn holes through the circuit board. )

When designing something for a one time use in the lab, you can get away with about 70% of full WV + WV, but if you want to reproduce the circuit (manufacture it!) don't even bother. Your quality review won't give you any more than one cap's WV. but, your line test failures will be much more entertaining (not to safety people of course.)

There are legitimate reasons to put caps in series. Obviously, getting a non-standard value. Also there is a slight improvement in reliability if the networks applied voltage is below each cap's WV (sharing), but that is offset by the decrease due to simply having one more part to fail.

Ceramic caps exhibit a piezo effect increasing with applied voltage which means their value changes with applied DC voltage. Using two ceramics in series to halve the applied DC (V<<WV) to each will improve the stability of value (uF); but at the cost of board space, MTBF, and price of an additional part.
 

capacitor in series

Two capacitors is series, the total capacitance is (C1*C2)/(C1+C2), not (C1+C2)/2.
 

Re: capacitor in series

wesspower,
Echo47 is correct regarding the formula for capacitors in series. Regarding the working voltages, the voltage across the capacitors will be distributed according to the following formulas.
. Vc1 = V C2/(C1 + C2)
. Vc2 = V C1/(C1 + C2)
Where
. Vc1 is the voltage across C1
. Vc2 is the voltage across C2
. V is the voltage applied across the series combination
Regards,
Kral
 

Re: capacitor in series

Series capacitos need parallel resistors across every one of them to correct the variable leackage currents across dielectric. For two 10V series capacitors the voltage will be 20V. However two 100k to 1M resistors are also necessary.
Series capacitors are used for HV filtering above 400V (where large capacitors values are expensive). Series electrolitic capacitors are never used for low voltage DC filtering. Rarely for AC filtering, connected in anti-series.
 

Re: capacitor in series

Thank you, guys, I understand a bit more about capacitor, and correcting my fomular.
 

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