Step 1: Find the total capacitance of the circuit
Assume we have three capacitors, a 12 µF, a 20 µF, and a 30 µF connected to a 60Hz source. What is the total capacitive reactance (XC) when connected in series or connected in parallel?
1A. For Series Capacitors
When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance is less than any one of the series capacitors' individual capacitances. If two or more capacitors are connected in series, the overall effect is that of a single (equivalent) capacitor having the sum total of the plate spacing of the individual capacitors.
Series Capacitors Example:
1 / 12 = 0.083, 1 / 20 = 0.050, 1 / 30 = 0.033
0.083 + 0.050 + 0.033 = 0.166
1 / 0.163 = 6.02 µF
Note: math is simplified for illustration purposes. Use a calculator for more accurate numbers.
1B. For Parallel Capacitors
When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitors' capacitances. If two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the overall effect is that of a single equivalent capacitor having the sum total of the plate areas of the individual capacitors.
Parallel Capacitors Example:
12 + 20 + 30 = 62 µF
Step 2: Find the Capacitive Reactance
Like resistance, reactance is measured in Ohm's but is given the symbol X to distinguish it from a purely resistive R value and as the component in question is a capacitor, the reactance of a capacitor is called Capacitive Reactance, ( XC ) which is measured in Ohms.
Since capacitors charge and discharge in proportion to the rate of voltage change across them, the faster the voltage changes the more current will flow. Likewise, the slower the voltage changes the less current will flow. This means then that the reactance of an AC capacitor is "inversely proportional" to the frequency of the supply.
XC is the Capacitive Reactance in Ohms, f is the frequency in Hertz and C is the AC capacitance in Farads. It's very important to convert our example from microfarads to farads in order to get a correct result!
1 µF = 0.000001 F
60Hz Series Example:
6.02 µF = 0.000006 F (simplified)
2 x 3.14 x 60 x 0.000006 = 0.0022608
1 / 0.0022608 = 442.32 Ohms
60Hz Parallel Example:
62 µF = 0.000062 F
2 x 3.14 x 60 x 0.000062 = 0.0233616
1 / 0.0233616 = 42.805 Ohms
Now let's see what happens when the frequency is changed to 400 Hz:
400Hz Series Example:
2 x 3.14 x 400 x 0.000006 = 0.015072
1 / 0.015072 = 66.34 Ohms
400Hz Parallel Example:
2 x 3.14 x 400 x 0.000062 = 0.155744
1 / 0.155744 = 6.42 Ohms
