Can I Charge Capacitors Without a Step-Up Transformer?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of charging capacitors to a higher voltage using methods other than a step-up transformer. Participants explore various techniques to achieve higher DC voltage from a lower DC source, focusing on practical applications involving batteries.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that a power source voltage must be greater than or equal to the desired voltage to charge a capacitor.
  • Another participant suggests looking into voltage doubler circuits, noting their use in PC power supplies for voltage conversion.
  • A different participant recommends researching charge pumps as a potential solution.
  • One participant expresses the need to use batteries, indicating that AC solutions are not applicable for their situation.
  • There is a clarification about charge pumps, with a participant describing them as devices that charge capacitors in parallel and discharge them in series.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree on the need for a higher voltage source to charge capacitors, but multiple methods (voltage doublers and charge pumps) are proposed without consensus on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the specifics of how charge pumps operate or their effectiveness compared to voltage doublers, and there may be assumptions about the applicability of these methods to battery-powered systems.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in electronics, particularly those working with capacitors and battery-powered circuits, may find this discussion relevant.

alpine2beach
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I know that in order to charge a capacitor, you must have a power source voltage greater than or equal to the desired voltage in the capacitor. Knowing this, is there any way to achieve a higher voltage DC(from a lower voltage DC) without using a step-up transformer?
 
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Look up charge pumps.
 
triden said:
You might want to take a look at voltage doubler circuits. These are used in PC power supplies to convert 110 VAC to the 220 VAC that the supplies run on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_multiplier

I need to use batteries, so AC is out of the question.
 
Studiot said:
Look up charge pumps.

Thanks. That's pretty much what I need. Now all I have to do is figure out wiki... So basically a charge pump is a device that charges capacitors in parallel and discharges in a series?
 
alpine2beach said:
Thanks. That's pretty much what I need. Now all I have to do is figure out wiki... So basically a charge pump is a device that charges capacitors in parallel and discharges in a series?

Right.
 

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