1. What is the Capacitor Voltage Divider?

The capacitor voltage divider is a circuit that produces an output voltage (V_out) that is a fraction of its input voltage (V_in) based on the ratio of two capacitors (C1 and C2). This Digikey approximation works for DC analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the capacitor voltage divider equation:

Where:

• \( V_{in} \) — Input voltage (volts)
• \( C1 \) — First capacitor value (farads)
• \( C2 \) — Second capacitor value (farads)

Explanation: The output voltage is determined by the ratio of C1 to the total capacitance (C1 + C2), multiplied by the input voltage.

3. Importance of Voltage Division

Details: Capacitor voltage dividers are used in various electronic circuits for signal processing, power supply regulation, and creating reference voltages.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter input voltage in volts, capacitor values in farads. All values must be positive numbers. For practical circuits, capacitor values are typically in microfarads (μF) or picofarads (pF).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this calculator accurate for AC signals?
A: This calculator provides a DC approximation. For AC signals, the actual behavior depends on frequency and the capacitors' impedance.

Q2: What are typical capacitor values used in dividers?
A: Values range from picofarads (pF) to microfarads (μF) depending on application and frequency requirements.

Q3: How does this differ from resistor voltage dividers?
A: Capacitor dividers don't dissipate power like resistors, but their division ratio is frequency-dependent in AC circuits.

Q4: What happens if one capacitor is much larger than the other?
A: The output voltage approaches the input voltage when C1 >> C2, or approaches zero when C1 << C2.

Q5: Can I use electrolytic capacitors in a voltage divider?
A: Yes, but be mindful of their polarity and higher equivalent series resistance (ESR) which may affect performance.