Re: changing capacitance

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com>

Hi Christopher...

the value of the caps in series (total value) will lower due to a 
division factor but the good part is that the overall voltage handling 
level increases in a multiplication factor (if all caps are the same 
value and size)


I have yet to find sufficient info (formulas) on putting caps of 
various sizes and voltages in series and finding the overall rating .....

Hi Scott, Christopher, All,
       
       A separate formula is not given, because really just an application of 
Ohm's Law, using AC reactance instead of DC resistance. 
1. Compute Xc=1/(2*pi*f*C) for each cap in the string.
2. Assume each cap has its rated voltage across it.
3. Use Ohm's Law to find current which would be flowing in each case: 
I1=E1/Xc1, I2=E2/Xc2, etc.
4. Using the smallest of the currents found, recompute the voltage drop 
across each cap. Using Ohm's Law. En=Imin*Xcn
6. The sum of these voltage drops is the maximum voltage the string can stand 
without overvolting part of it.

This same technique can be used for any network of series and parallel 
combinations of elements by repeated use of Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's Laws.
 
Hope this helps,
Matt D.
G3-#1085