What is the formula for calculating the equivalent value of capacitors connected in series or parallel?

The formulas for calculating the equivalent value of capacitors connected in series or in parallel differ depending on the configuration of the capacitors.

Equivalent Value Calculation for Capacitors in Parallel

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total equivalent capacitance 

Ctotal is the sum of the individual capacitances. The formula is: C total=C1+C2+⋯+Cn where C1 ,C2 ,…,Cn represent the capacitances of the capacitors connected in parallel.

Equivalent Value Calculation for Capacitors in Series

When capacitors are connected in series, the reciprocal of the total equivalent capacitance Ctotal is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances. The formula is:

For convenience, this can be rewritten as

Or for two capacitors in series, simplified as

These formulas help you determine the equivalent capacitance when analyzing circuits. Note that in a series connection, the total equivalent capacitance is always less than any of the individual capacitances; whereas in a parallel connection, the total equivalent capacitance is always greater than any of the individual capacitances.