Voltage Multiplier Circuit Using Diodes and Capacitors

This electronics video tutorial explains the workings of a voltage multiplier circuit that can be made using diodes and capacitors. This circuit converts an AC signal into a DC voltage with an output that is nearly x2, x4, or even x6 the input voltage.
What Is a Diode? • What Is a Diode?
How To Solve Diode Circuit Problems:
• How To Solve Diode Cir...
Diode Logic Gates - OR, NOR, AND, & NAND:
• Diode Logic Gates - OR...
Clipper Circuits:
• Clipper Circuits
Clamper Circuits:
• Clamper Circuits
Half-Wave Rectifiers:
• Half Wave Rectifiers
__________________________________
Full-Wave Rectifiers:
• Full Wave Rectifiers
Full-Wave Bridge Rectifiers:
• Full Wave Bridge Recti...
220V AC to 12V DC Converter:
• 220V AC to 12V DC Conv...
Capacitor Voltage Booster Circuit:
• Capacitor Voltage Boos...
Half Wave Voltage Doubler Circuit:
• Voltage Multipliers - ...
Full Wave Voltage Doubler Circuit:
• Full Wave Voltage Doub...
__________________________________
Light Emitting Diodes:
• LEDs - Light Emitting ...
Power Dissipation In LEDs & Diodes:
• Power Dissipation In R...
Final Exams and Video Playlists:
www.video-tutor.net/
Full-Length Videos and Worksheets:
/ collections
__________________________________
1N4007 Diodes: amzn.to/2UblCPZ
Alligator Wires: amzn.to/3B1Lwqa
Electrolytic Capacitors: amzn.to/3ie6ERt
Disclaimer: Some of the links associated with this video may generate affiliate commissions on my behalf. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases that you may make through such affiliate links.

[@TheOrganicChemistryTutor]

Final Exams and Video Playlists: www.video-tutor.net/ Full-Length Math & Science Videos: www.patreon.com/mathsciencetutor/collections

[@valenmosquera9]

You're literally the only person who didn't skip important steps. Thank you!

[@mariolazzarini5806]

By far the best explanation I´ve seen of this. Finally, someone explains in detail every cycle. Thank you so much!

[@amitzerikunthe7635]

i can't express in words how u tought this concept....i saw nearly 10 videos but i did't ge understand from anywhere but u explained it in very easy way.....thank you so much sir

[@binbin6525]

I really appreciate your videos. Your videos are awesome and I can easily understand it. Thank you SO MUCH. You are a good speaker.

[@thanksgiving156]

✊🏽✊🏽 keep on doing the electronic lessons✨💖💖💖. I really need them. I have downloaded more than 10 videos of Electronic lessos

[@alexgee248]

This is the best explanation I've seen yet. For the first time I understand how this works.

[@snoobeagle]

Very good tutorial! Helped me a lot!

[@stephendixon8575]

Excellent effort to explain the complexities of this type of circuit. It’s helpful that you explained why the voltage drops across the diodes were left out the calculations for the sake of simplicity, but I think it is also worth explaining that 12V AC power source in this is also being simplified to mean 12V Peak AC, rather than the usual 12V AC being RMS (i.e. an ‘average’ of 12V) where the peak voltage would actually be higher (~16.9V before diode voltage drops). Appreciate you’re trying to simplify things, but its important people understand the actual voltages would be much higher (especially if anyone is thinking of playing with making a real circuit!). Great job 👍

[@inventorbrothers7053]

Awesome explanation! I now understand how this circuit works! Thanks!

[@thehaseeb9136]

Thank you sir, Only well explained video on YT.

[@Marimuthu-hn7pr]

Sir,I really many more & most thanks because that circuits work on my maintenance department //lot lot of thank you very much

[@igorying8548]

Very clear explanation, thanks!

[@Amandeeprana437]

Thank you so much, i understand easily from your video..

[@landonfrigault2183]

Oh man, the things I would do to this man, for all the help he's given me over my career, insane.

[@akamiyire4147]

wow your voice is very clear in this video thanks man keep the good work God bless you million times a day.

[@energyforever720]

does the voltage across the capacitors ever get higher than double the input voltage? like, if you had 100 stages, would the voltage measured across the capacitor in the 100th stage only be double the input voltage? im trying to understand what capacitors should be used in a circuit like this, that info was absent from the video for some reason. is there a rule of thumb for picking capacitors for votage multiplier circuits, like 4 times the input voltage no matter how many stages you make? also, is there a maximum amount of stages you can make?

[@JackieBrown3123]

Good explanation thank you. What type of diode and capacitor could we use? What is the maximum frequency used with this circuit?

[@ATLAStheprima-synth]

Hi I have a question well a few the first one is do I have to have a transformer on the input the second one is do you need different number diode‘s for each connection because I only have one kind third I’m using a set called snap circuits and the only other numbered diode‘s have lights on them which sucks up a lot of voltage please respond thank you

[@nishitjoshi1600]

can you make a explanation video on voltage multiplier ckt working a dc source

[@user-sc5hj4nu3u]

Good explanation, thanks!! Is it possible to multiply voltage of small signals using this method?

[@Lababthuh]

Why does the current not flow to C2 in the 1st negative cycle?

[@sakdavith6969]

Could u make an explanation vid on integrated circuit?

[@blissboy1642]

Please I want to know if this strategy also work for Ac to AC voltage booster

[@sravanth3008]

yo whats that software you use man?

[@alimuhammad.s3013]

Is this a practical ckt? Can we run loads on it like LCD?

[@kruimels]

I live in the Netherlands, were we have 220 volt ac. What kind of capacitors and diodes I need?

[@luizcvieira3124]

So... if you manage to control the 12Vac from 0 to 12, you're going to have a 0 to 72Vcc controlled output, minus all diodes' voltage drops. Considering a possible high-voltage source to, say, capacitor revival, a sinusoidal generator (60Hz or some more suitable frequency) connected to the input of a "tunned" symmetrical power amplifier with some tens of output voltage and some hundreds of milliamps @ its output and driving a multiplier would then give us a DIY controlled high-voltage, low-current capacitor revival circuit. Also, each diode junction would provide some lower voltage output, that could be connected to a selection switch for max voltage output. Hummm... Sound "delicious"... Of course, capacitors' working voltage MUST be carefully set, or else... KABOOM!!!

[@ninjafishing7120]

Can i series the capacitor without the diode ? Will it work ?

[@descampk2346]

That parallel battery gon blow up

[@Glockperfection666]

Best !!!

[@doprisi]

If you discharge the circuit, will only the last capacitator be discharged or all at once? I would bet only the last given how a capacitator works.

[@reginaldhorkyiiregorreggie1559]

current doesn't flow thru a capacitor. if it did it would be called a short. I think what you mean is charge the capacitor. outside of that, thanks. lol. I made one when I was ten. now I know why it didn't work. I used dc. I wonder if that's the same principle behind a fly back circuit. I'm designing an ac inverter for fun and I'm dead set on using the irfp250's that I ordered at 120v. hum? I know lower voltage rectification. but I don't want to. I want to use the 250's at a higher efficiency.

[@jaysmith3259]

Current always flows during capacitor charging until finished with the voltage you're charging it with.

[@ShilohSedlak]

If every one of the capasitors are only rated at 12 volts will this system still work? Or do I need higher rated capasitors all the way down the line?

[@inventorbrothers7053]

You would need an appropriately rated capacitor for the voltage potential it will be storing.

[@user-ej4up5ev8c]

Are AC capacitors needed? Or does it work with DC capacitors?

[@adhambarakat8688]

Is he using conventional current flow?

[@iwantsushant]

But In the mosquito bat this formula used with different style???

[@kristofersozo464]

Is there any simple formula for this circuit?

[@Cien_Swiatla]

Can you explain why D1 and D2 do not discharge the capacitor C2?

[@PunmasterSTP]

I think the reason would be because the terminal of C2 connected to the cathode of D2 is at a higher voltage than the terminal of C2 connected to the anode of D1. Therefore the diodes would prevent the discharging of C2, since they would be reverse-biased in that situation.

[@jaysmith3259]

Because the second half cycle coming off of source voltage plus charged C1 at 12 volts, makes it a 24volt charge to charge C2.

[@Cien_Swiatla]

@@jaysmith3259 Thx

[@ikekennedy9700]

How would you hook up the input and output

[@brandonsmith8680]

Input could be a battery and output could be an arc

[@successthruknowledge]

It was a good lecture though I guess that I'm hazy yet why the current only goes through the nearest diode back to the negative terminal of the AC source and not dividing itself between the diode and the next capacitor along the wire. If you follow my reasoning. For example after the current passes through D1 and charges C1 then why doesn't it charge also C3?

[@karhukivi]

Just a quick answer, because as it charges C1 the voltage is held constant and a silicon diode needs a forward voltage of about 0.7V before it conducts, so D2 isn't conducting. .

[@successthruknowledge]

@@karhukivi thanks!

[@usermlgbzzcnm]

why in the first negative half cycle current isn't flowing through c2-d3-c3-c1 etc.

[@jaysmith3259]

Because current flows the path to Source with the least resistance with the voltage you're starting out with.

[@alessandrodesessa3158]

Why do capacitors charge up one at a time ? Wouldn't they all charge at the same time ?

[@Renshen1957]

What you illustrate in this video is known as a Cockcroft-Walton Multiplier...

[@kietluu4577]

Where are the positive and negative ends of the output voltage?

[@newton4098]

wait parallel batteries dont subtract thier voltages. You either add the volts, or add the Amps......

[@abdessalemakerma4636]

the polarized capacitor cant run by Ac !!

[@inventorbrothers7053]

ha good catch

[@abdessalemakerma4636]

@@inventorbrothers7053 what do u mean

[@inventorbrothers7053]

@@abdessalemakerma4636 I meant that it was Good that you caught the mistake made in the video. That polarized capacitors can't take a reverse polarity voltage. That's all.

[@abdessalemakerma4636]

ah okey thanks

[@S24W2]

Actually, the polarities on the capacitors are not changing

[@indibil]

¿And the ground is connected 1/2 wave to positive, and 1/2 wave to negative???? don't produce short circuit with the rest of circuit??

[@juanmf]

No increase in energy but no waste in skin effect of magnetic induction.

[@paulosergioenergia1659]

I wish know about frequence response of this kind of circuit, if someone did, plz awsner this coment.

[@aselim20.]

I watched it.

[@juancarlosabad3298]

...any AC voltage source is specified as Volts - RMS = Vrms...so a 12Vrms voltage source will charge the first capacitor at 12V*sqrt(2) = 16.97V ~17V (- voltage drop on the diode ~0.7)....~16.3V ...and not to 12V as wrongly explained in the video...

[@abhiramkj2910]

Look into peak detectors

[@jaysmith3259]

He is explaining the first half cycle, not the second half cycle.

[@Dinco422]

Is not really 'as far as you want' because of the losses.

[@Someone-de7wf]

What grade is this?

[@keepmehomeplease]

Probably college electromagnetism or AP chem

[@Someone-de7wf]

Koop Bar Oh wow, thanks so much

[@sakdavith6969]

@@keepmehomeplease probably more of electronic engineering.

[@keepmehomeplease]

@@Someone-de7wf can't tell if you were being sarcastic but what i meant in actual grades was probably around 11th grade or college introductory type class

[@ExodusX1]

@@keepmehomeplease oh, I'm in 8th grade lol. I enjoy learning about electricity and circuits.

[@mattstroker3742]

Why only ac? Why doesn't anyone talk about a DC version?

[@WaffleRune]

It should be easier, and then you use a rectifier to turn it into AC with a total voltage smaller than the peak voltage, but still above like, half of it, specifically Vp/√2

[@thecyborg6718]

Current it flows only from negative to positive dude...

[@mint2607]

It flows from positive to negative based on conventional flow. I think you're basing it on electron flow?

[@niksa28]

Charging of C3 is explained very badly, he should have simply said we got +36V and -12V charging it to 24V.

[@bullblood1641]

Thank you! I spent around 3 hours trying to understand this with different videos, but you helped me realize the key point in just 10 minutes. You're the best! 🎉🫶🏼

[@blissboy1642]

Please I want to know if this strategy also work for Ac to AC voltage booster

[@Renshen1957]

It would be easy to use two transformers: Input Primary to mains voltage T1-then connect the secondary winding of T1 to secondary winding of T2, and use the primary winding as the AC voltage booster. Transformer 1 120V secondary 12 v to 12 v secondary winding T2 and Primary 230 V to 230 volts AC Use different secondary windings on T2 for desired voltage boost, advantage isolation from mains, disadvantage weight and current limited to secondary T2 rating.