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How to Use a Capacitor Instead of a Transformer

Transformers and capacitors usually perform very different tasks in an electric circuit. However, they do have one task they can both perform. It is called isolation. Capacitors are best for DC isolation. If two circuits are connected by an isolation capacitor and circuit "A" tries to send a signal that has an AC and DC component to circuit "B," the isolation capacitor will block the DC component. The AC component will pass on to circuit "B." This configuration is common in amplifiers.

Things You'll Need

2 single-stage amplifier circuits
Capacitors
Signal generator
DC power supply
Voltage meter

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the positive and negative power for both amplifier circuits to the positive and negative terminals of the DC power supply. The power supply should be off during all wiring procedures. Use a signal generator to produce an AC signal with a DC component.
- 2
  Connect the output terminal of the signal generator to the input terminal of the first amplifier. Connect an isolation capacitor between the output terminal of the first amplifier and the input terminal of the second amplifier. This is done by connecting one of the capacitor terminals to the output terminal of the first amplifier and then connecting the second capacitor terminal to the input terminal of the second amplifier.
- 3
  Turn on the power supply and the signal generator. Measure the amount of AC power and DC power output from the second amplifier. The AC signal should be larger than the AC signal that originally came from the signal generator. Also measure the DC component from the signal generator and the DC signal output from the second amplifier. The DC signal from the second amplifier should be smaller than the signal generator DC signal..

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