series capacitors?

[jrz126]

I'm working on my strobelight, I need ~150uF cap rated at 400 V. however, I have 2 330uF caps. Can I just wire them in series?

 

[bioborg]

series caps

yes, it'l be a tad bit over 150uf

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

You should put voltage balancing resistors across them, to ensure they share the voltage equally.

 

[jrz126]

Thanks nigel, thats what I was looking for. I tried connecting 15V across both of them and I ended up with 11V on 1 and 4V on the other.

I tried connecting it to the wall outlet, but it didnt work, I think I screwed something up in my timing circuit.
Also, I'm using a smaller capacitor for C1, would this cause it to not work?
https://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/strobe2.htm

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Thanks nigel, thats what I was looking for. I tried connecting 15V across both of them and I ended up with 11V on 1 and 4V on the other.

I tried connecting it to the wall outlet, but it didnt work, I think I screwed something up in my timing circuit.
Also, I'm using a smaller capacitor for C1, would this cause it to not work?
https://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/strobe2.htm

It's only a voltage doubler, to compensate for your low mains voltage, check what voltage you have on the second capacitor.

If C1 is slighter smaller, it shouldn't make a great deal of difference.

 

[Pommie]

Why not change the circuit to use a conventional voltage doubler. The capacitors then share the voltage.

HTH

Mike.

Edit, Adjust the voltages for US mains.