1. What is a Capacitor Voltage Divider?

Definition: A capacitor voltage divider is a circuit that uses capacitors to divide an input voltage into a smaller output voltage based on the ratio of the capacitor values.

Purpose: It's commonly used in AC circuits, power supplies, and signal processing to obtain a desired voltage level without using resistive dividers.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( V_{out} \) — Output voltage (volts)
• \( V_{in} \) — Input voltage (volts)
• \( C_1 \) — First capacitor value (farads)
• \( C_2 \) — Second capacitor value (farads)

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

3. Importance of Capacitor Voltage Dividers

Details: Unlike resistive dividers, capacitor dividers don't dissipate power as heat and are more efficient for AC signals. They're essential in high-frequency applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the input voltage and values for both capacitors. For small capacitors, you can use scientific notation (e.g., 10e-12 for 10pF).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this work for DC voltage?
A: No, capacitor dividers only work for AC signals. For DC, you would need a resistive voltage divider.

Q2: What happens if C1 equals C2?
A: The output voltage will be exactly half of the input voltage (V_out = V_in/2).

Q3: How does frequency affect the divider?
A: The formula assumes the frequency is high enough that the capacitive reactance dominates over any parasitic resistances.

Q4: Can I use different capacitor types?
A: Yes, but they should be non-polarized capacitors. The values should be in the same units (farads).

Q5: What about capacitor tolerances?
A: Real-world capacitors have tolerances (typically ±5% to ±20%) which will affect the actual output voltage.