RE: Capacitor - series?

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

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz> 

On 8 Feb 2004, at 17:16, Tesla list wrote:

 > Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>
 >
 > Ok all this has me a bit confused.
 > I am STILL of the inclination that:
 > the two caps WILL NOT see the same voltage
 > if they are of DIFFERENT VALUES.
 >
 > Some are saying they will see the same voltage.
 >
 > What seems to be the verdict among the guys that know their stuff?
 >
 > Luke Galyan
 > Bluu-at-cox-dot-net

If the capacitors are wired in series and their values are different,
the voltages that will be impressed across them will be different for
the reasons Phil gave. Both AC and DC demonstrations of this are
simple to perform but the DC one requires a very quick measurement
with a very high impedance meter to avoid introducing significant
shunt resistance and hence leakage currents into the circuit.

      Although one can perform the DC test (NOT the AC one!!) with
electrolytics it is inadvisable since the leakage currents present
are significant and will be significantly different for small and
large capacitors (i.e. the results will most likely be skewed in a
favourable direction).

Malcolm
<snip>