Capacitors in Parallel

We know that multiple connections of capacitors act as a single equivalent capacitor. The total capacitance of this equivalent single capacitor depends both on the individual capacitors and how they are connected. There are two simple and common types of connections:

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• Series connection 
• Parallel connection

Table of Contents:

• • Capacitors in Parallel
  • Capacitors in Parallel Formula
  • Applications of Parallel Capacitors
  • Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Capacitors in Parallel

The total capacitance can be easily calculated for both series connections as well as for capacitors in parallel. Capacitors may be placed in parallel for various reasons. Few reasons why capacitors are placed in parallel are:

• Higher levels of capacitance
• To provide an exact value which otherwise may not be available
• To provide a distributed capacitance on a printed circuit board

In this article, let us discuss in detail about capacitors in parallel and the formula used to find the equivalent capacitance of the parallel combination of capacitors.

Capacitors In Parallel Formula

Following is the table explaining the capacitors in the parallel formula:

The total capacitance of a set of parallel capacitors is simply the sum of the capacitance values of the individual capacitors. Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of capacitors that can be connected in parallel. But certainly, there will be practical limits depending on the application, space, and other physical limitations.

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The below video explains the parallel combination of capacitors:

Applications of Parallel Capacitors

By combining several capacitors in parallel, the resultant circuit will be able to store more energy as the equivalent capacitance is the sum of individual capacitances of all capacitors involved. This effect is used in the following applications.

• DC power supplies sometimes use parallel capacitors in order to better filter the output signal and eliminate the AC ripple.
• Energy storage capacitor banks are used for power factor correction with inductive loads.
• Capacitive storage banks are used in the automotive industry for regenerative braking in large vehicles such as trams and hybrid cars.

Using capacitors in parallel provides additional flexibility in their use.

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