Finding total current for series capacitors

[jaredogden]

I guess the title basically explains it. I'm reading over some circuits and can't figure out how to find total current for a circuit with capacitors in series.

 

[jsgruszynski]

For DC it's meaningless to ask the question. For AC you need to specific something about the frequency or frequencies of relevance.

 

[vk6kro]

The total current through series capacitors is the same as through each of them.

The combined capacitance of capacitors in series is:

So, if you calculate this to get the combined capacitance of the series capacitors, you can then regard the result as one capacitor.

The reactance X of a capacitor is:

So, you can calculate the current from this formula:
Currrent = V / X
where V is the peak, or the peak to peak, or the RMS voltage of a sinewave. The current will then be the peak, peak to peak, or RMS value of the AC current.

 

[jaredogden]

Thanks Vk6kro. I actually finally figured it out I had the reactance but for some reason just wasn't thinking to use V/X I felt stupid once I realized that. Thanks again