If you want to replace a defective capacitor but the only replacements you can find do not have enough capacitance, you can increase their capacitance by

If you want to replace a defective capacitor but the only replacements you can find do not have enough capacitance, you can increase their capacitance by

• A. Connecting two or more capacitors in series
• B. Replacing with a larger single capacitor
• C. Connecting two or more capacitors in parallel
• D. Using a voltage regulator

Answer: (C)

Capacitance adds when capacitors are placed in parallel. When you connect several capacitors across the same two nodes, the total capacitance is the sum of their individual capacitances, so C_total = C1 + C2 + … This is why you can boost the overall capacitance by wiring multiple smaller capacitors in parallel to reach the needed value. Connecting them in series would do the opposite and reduce the total capacitance (not helpful here), and a voltage regulator doesn’t change capacitance at all. Replacing with a single larger capacitor would work if available, but when only smaller replacements exist, parallel combination is the practical way to achieve the higher capacitance.

Capacitance adds when capacitors are placed in parallel. When you connect several capacitors across the same two nodes, the total capacitance is the sum of their individual capacitances, so C_total = C1 + C2 + … This is why you can boost the overall capacitance by wiring multiple smaller capacitors in parallel to reach the needed value. Connecting them in series would do the opposite and reduce the total capacitance (not helpful here), and a voltage regulator doesn’t change capacitance at all. Replacing with a single larger capacitor would work if available, but when only smaller replacements exist, parallel combination is the practical way to achieve the higher capacitance.