Current direction dependent behavior

[nilrehob]

There have been some occasional discussion at another thread about efficient charging of capacitors http://www.energeticforum.com/renewa...html#post51885

It seems like charging in series and draining in parallel is an interesting approach as charging in series will give you more energy when capturing a spike.
I made a video YouTube - Charge two capacitors showing the same.

But why stop there?
Why not replace the capacitors with other components, like coils?
How would a motor behave with coils connected like this?

I think it is an interesting circuit that deserves more attention, regardless if it's capacitors, coils, resistors or what have you in the circuit, as it changes its behavior when the current change direction.
Series in one way and parallel in the other.

/Hob

[barbosi]

It seems like charging in series and draining in parallel is an interesting approach as charging in series will give you more energy when capturing a spike.
/Hob

I see things the other way around (charge capacitors in parallel and discharge them in series). E=1/2*(C*U^2) where U is the sum of potential stored in each capacitor.
Build a simple Marx Generator

[nilrehob]

I see things the other way around (charge capacitors in parallel and discharge them in series). E=1/2*(C*U^2) where U is the sum of potential stored in each capacitor.
Build a simple Marx Generator

Sure, if generating high voltage is your goal just flip the caps (or use nonpolar caps) and you have it.

But if your goal is capturing spikes, for example, then use it as is.
I demonstrate just that in my video.

/Hob

[barbosi]

Sorry, I was reading "spikes" and thinking "sparks" .

PS: A diode and capacitor is the classic max detector (not with resistors as in your video). If the dynamic resistance of a diode is not good enough (for the rising speed of your signal), put as many in parallel as required.

However, I don't know why would you "capture" the spikes if not using them. In the case of discharging the capacitors, I still stand correct, serial configuration of capacitors at discharge time will give you more energy than parallel.

Or maybe I did not understand your goal...?...

[nilrehob]

Sorry, I was reading "spikes" and thinking "sparks" .

PS: A diode and capacitor is the classic max detector (not with resistors as in your video). If the dynamic resistance of a diode is not good enough (for the rising speed of your signal), put as many in parallel as required.

However, I don't know why would you "capture" the spikes if not using them. In the case of discharging the capacitors, I still stand correct, serial configuration of capacitors at discharge time will give you more energy than parallel.

Or maybe I did not understand your goal...?...

The resistors was to simulate the losses in the circuit, to make the simulation as close to reality as possible.
The goal is to minimize energy used when charging/saturating a coil and to maximize energy captured from the spike.