ELEMENTS OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (01EE0101)

B.E. SEM-1

Experiment-3
Aim:
Determine the relationship in series and parallel connected capacitors.

Apparatus:
 Regulated AC supply / Function Generator
 Capacitors /Capacitance Decade Box
 Multimeter

Theory:
Individual capacitors can be connected together in either a series connection, a parallel connection or
to obtain the capacitance of desired value/rating. Equivalent capacitance of series or parallel connected
capacitor may be either having higher value or lesser one.
Capacitors in Series:
Capacitors are connected together in series when they are daisy chained together in a single line. In the
following example the resistors C1, C2, C3, ..., Cn are all connected together in series between points A
and B with a common current, I flowing through them.

Figure 1 Capacitors Connected in Series

For series connected capacitors, the current (i) flowing through the capacitors is the same for all
capacitors as it only has one path to follow. Then, Capacitors in Series all have the same current flowing
through them. Therefore, each capacitor will store the same amount of electrical charge, Q on its plates
regardless of its capacitance. This is because the charge stored by a plate of any one capacitor must
have come from the plate of its adjacent capacitor. Therefore, capacitors connected together in series
must have the same charge.
𝑸 = 𝑸𝟏 = 𝑸𝟐 = 𝑸 𝟑 = ⋯ = 𝑸𝒏

Voltage drop across each capacitor will be different depending upon the values of the individual
capacitance’s. Then by applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, ( KVL ) to the above circuit, we get:

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 𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽 𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑽𝒏

Since 𝑄 = 𝐶 ∗ 𝑉 and rearranging for 𝑉 = 𝑄⁄𝐶 , substituting Q/C for each capacitor voltage Vx in the above
KVL equation will give us:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + + + ⋯+
𝑪𝑻 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑪 𝟑 𝑪𝒏

Total value for capacitors in series equals the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual
capacitances. In series connected capacitor circuits, the total capacitance (CT) of any two or more
capacitors connected together in series will always be less than the value of the smallest capacitor in
the group.

Capacitors in Parallel:

Capacitors are said to be connected together in parallel when both of their terminals are respectively
connected to each terminal of the other capacitor or capacitors. Unlike the previous series capacitor
circuit, in a parallel capacitor network the circuit current can take more than one path as there are
multiple paths for the current.

Figure 2 Capacitors in Parallel Connection

In the following example the resistors C1, C2, C3, ..., Rn are all connected together in parallel between
points A and B with a common potential difference, VT across them. Since there are multiple paths for
the supply current to flow through, the current may not be the same through all the branches in the
parallel network, as the capacitance value of each branch determines the amount of current flowing
within that branch. However, the voltage drops across all of the capacitors in a parallel capacitve
network is the same. Then, Resistors in Parallel have a Common Voltage across them and this is true for
all parallel connected elements.
𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑽 𝟑 = ⋯ = 𝑽𝒏

The total current, IT entering a parallel capacitive circuit is the sum of all the individual currents flowing
in all the parallel branches.
𝑰𝑻 = 𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐 + 𝑰 𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑰𝒏

The total charge QT stored on all the plates equals the sum of the individual stored charges on each
capacitor therefore,
𝑸𝑻 = 𝑸𝟏 + 𝑸𝟐 + 𝑸 𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑸𝒏

Equivalate capacitance (CT) of the parallel circuit can be derived from the total stored coulomb charge
using the Q = CV equation for charge on a capacitors plates.

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 𝑪𝑻 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 + 𝑪 𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑪𝒏

In parallel connected capacitor circuits, the total capacitance (CT) of any two or more capacitors
connected together in parallel will always be greater than the value of the largest capacitor in the
group.

Connection Diagram:

Figure 3 Connection Diagram of Series Connection

Figure 4 Connection Diagram of KVL

Procedure:
For verification of Series Connection:
1. Chose three different capacitors from capacitance decade box

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 2. Connect the circuit diagram as shown in Fig.3.
3. Turn on the supply and set voltage and frequency to some arbitrary value
4. Measure readings of ammeters.
5. Find out the capacitance and verify that measured value of equivalent capacitance
matches the calculated value of equivalent capacitance. Calculate the % error.
6. Vary voltage or frequency applied to the circuit or vary capacitor and repeat same steps.

For verification of Series Connection:

1. Chose three different capacitors from capacitance decade box
2. Connect the circuit diagram as shown in Fig.4.
3. Turn on the supply and set voltage and frequency to some arbitrary value
4. Measure readings of ammeters.
5. Find out the capacitance and verify that measured value of equivalent capacitance
matches the calculated value of equivalent capacitance. Calculate the % error
6. Vary voltage or frequency applied to the circuit or vary capacitor and repeat same steps.

Observation Table:
For series connection:
Values of capacitors connected in series, C1:________, C2:________, C3:________,
Sr Supply Supply Reading of Capacitive Equivalent Calculated Value % Error
No. Voltage V Frequency f Ammeter Reactance capacitance CT of Equivalent
(Volt) (Hz) I(Amp) Xc (Ohm) (μF) Capacitance CT
𝑿𝒄 = 𝑽⁄𝑰 𝑪 = 𝟏⁄𝟐𝝅𝒇𝑿 (μF)
𝑻 𝒄 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +
𝑪𝑻 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑪𝟑

1
2
3

For parallel connection:

Values of capacitors connected in parallel, C1:________, C2:________, C3:________,
Sr Supply Supply Reading of Capacitive Equivalent Calculated Value % Error
No. Voltage V Frequency f Ammeter Reactance capacitance CT of Equivalent
(Volt) (Hz) I(Amp) Xc (Ohm) (μF) Capacitance CT
𝑿𝒄 = 𝑽⁄𝑰 𝑪 = 𝟏⁄𝟐𝝅𝒇𝑿 (μF)
𝑻 𝒄
𝑪𝑻 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 + 𝑪𝟑

1
2
3

Calculations:

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MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOME:

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QUESTION AND ANSWER:
1. What is the equivalent capacitance if three capacitors 5 μF, 7 μF and 9 μF are connected in
series? What its value if connection is changed to parallel?

2. What are the different specification/rating to be specified for capacitor? Explain importance of
each of them.

3. Explain, how energy is being stored in capacitor? What is the mathematical expression for
calculating energy stored in capacitor?

OBJECTIVE (Why are you conducting this experiment?)

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ITEMS/APPARATUS (Which instrument or consumable was used in this experiment?)
1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
9. 10.

OBSERVATIONS (List out important observations you made in this experiment)

CONCLUSION (What conclusion or theory was established in this experiment?)

Sign of Instructor: ______________

Grade: __________ Date: ______________

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