Voltage Multiplier - Operation

Operation

Assuming that the peak voltage of the AC source is +Us, and that the C values are sufficiently high to allow, when charged, that a current flows with no significant change in voltage, then the (simplified) working of the cascade is as follows:

  1. negative peak (−Us): The C1 capacitor is charged through diode D1 to Us V (potential difference between left and right plate of the capacitor is Us)
  2. positive peak (+Us): the potential of C1 adds with that of the source, thus charging C2 to 2Us through D2
  3. negative peak: potential of C1 drops to 0 V thus allowing C3 to be charged through D3 to 2Us.
  4. positive peak: potential of C1 rises to 2Us (analogously to step 2), also charging C4 to 2Us. The output voltage (the sum of voltages under C2 and C4) raises till 4Us.

In reality more cycles are required for C4 to reach the full voltage. Each additional stage of two diodes and two capacitors increases the output voltage by twice the peak AC supply voltage.

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