Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
Type capacitor values, pick the unit for plain numbers and choose parallel or series. You get the total capacitance both ways.
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Parallel total
79 µF
- Series total
- 5.998 µF
- Capacitors
- 3
Parallel: C = C1 + C2 + …
Show working
- C = 10 µF + 22 µF + 47 µF = 79 µF
How to use
- Choose the unit for plain numbers (µF, nF or pF).
- Type values one per line; suffixes like 100n or 22p also work.
- Choose parallel or series and read the total.
Good to know
Capacitors combine the opposite way to resistors. Parallel: C = C1 + C2 + C3 … Series: 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 …, so the series total is smaller than the smallest capacitor.
In series, each capacitor shares the voltage; equal capacitors split it equally, but unequal ones do not, so check each one’s voltage rating. In parallel, the lowest voltage rating sets the limit for the group.
Units: 1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF. A code like 104 on a ceramic capacitor means 10 × 10⁴ pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF. Fan and motor run capacitors in India are usually rated in µF (2.5 µF, 3.15 µF and so on).
Questions
What is 10 µF and 22 µF in parallel?
32 µF; parallel capacitances simply add.
What is two 10 µF capacitors in series?
5 µF, half of one; the voltage rating effectively doubles if they are equal.
Can I replace a 2.5 µF fan capacitor with two in parallel?
Two 1.25 µF in parallel make 2.5 µF, but use the same voltage rating and the correct type; a single correct capacitor is better.
How do I type 100 nF?
Type 100n, or choose nF and type 100.
What does code 104 mean?
10 followed by four zeros in pF: 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.