Use this electronics calculation for a first-pass component, converter, signal, motor, or sensor estimate when the stated operating conditions and units match the device data.

Ripple current (A)

Required number input.

Frequency (Hz)

Required number input.

Capacitance (F)

Required number input.

Compute capacitor ripple voltage as ripple current divided by twice the product of frequency and capacitance. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

Ripple voltage (V)

The resulting ripple voltage returned as a number.

• Capacitance, ESR, leakage, ripple rating, lifetime, and self-resonance vary with frequency, temperature, DC bias, aging, dielectric, package, and mounting. Nominal capacitance alone does not determine in-circuit impedance or reliability.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Check the result against the current datasheet and worst-case operating corners, then verify the circuit or measurement with simulation and bench testing where failure matters.

• Decoupling Cap Value

  Compute the decoupling capacitance C = I x dt / dV needed to supply a transient current for a droop time within an allowed droop voltage.

• Sample And Hold Droop Rate

  Calculate the magnitude of sample-and-hold voltage droop per second from leakage current divided by hold capacitance.

• ESR From Dissipation Factor

  Compute equivalent series resistance as dissipation factor / (2 x PI x frequency x capacitance).