Calculation
Ctotal = C1 + C2 (+ C3)
Parallel-connected capacitors share the same voltage; their capacitances add directly.
Busch 2006, Abschnitt 1.3.3, Gl. (1.45)
Capacitors in parallel
Parallel-connected capacitors share the same voltage; their capacitances add directly.
MINTSI
02
Result
Select a target and calculate.
Understand the inputs
- Total capacitance Ctotal — Capacitance of the complete parallel combination.
- Capacitance C1 — First capacitor in the parallel combination.
- Capacitance C2 — Second capacitor in the parallel combination.
- Capacitance C3 (optional) — Third capacitor; set to 0 if only two capacitors are present.
Example
100 µF and 220 µF in parallel give 320 µF.
Assumptions and limits
Ideal, lossless capacitors with no leakage or ESR and no voltage imbalance.
Understand Capacitors in parallel
This calculator determines the total capacitance of two or three capacitors connected in parallel, the counterpart to the series case.
What does this quantity describe?
Parallel-connected capacitors share the same voltage U; the stored charges Q=C·U add, giving Ctotal=C1+C2(+C3).
Formula and variables
Ctotal = C1 + C2 (+ C3)
Ctotal = C1 + C2 (+ C3)
| Symbol / input | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Total capacitance Ctotal | Capacitance of the complete parallel combination. |
| Capacitance C1 | First capacitor in the parallel combination. |
| Capacitance C2 | Second capacitor in the parallel combination. |
| Capacitance C3 (optional) | Third capacitor; set to 0 if only two capacitors are present. |
Choose the inputs correctly
C1, C2 and optionally C3 are the capacitances of the parallel-connected capacitors.
How to use the calculator
Take capacitance values directly from component data; input order does not matter.
Worked example
100 µF and 220 µF in parallel give Ctotal=320 µF.
Understand the result and units
Ctotal is always larger than the largest individual capacitance and grows linearly with each added capacitance.
All capacitances are entered in the same or convertible units (F, mF, µF, nF, pF).
Typical applications
Increasing available capacitance by paralleling multiple components, e.g. for buffer capacitors or filter stages.
Assumptions, limits and common mistakes
Ideal, lossless capacitors with no leakage, ESR or voltage imbalance.
Common mistake: Do not use the series reciprocal-sum formula for the parallel case.
Frequently asked questions
What is “Capacitors in parallel” used for?
Increasing available capacitance by paralleling multiple components, e.g. for buffer capacitors or filter stages.
Where do the input values come from?
C1, C2 and optionally C3 are the capacitances of the parallel-connected capacitors.
What does the result not cover?
Ideal, lossless capacitors with no leakage, ESR or voltage imbalance.