A voltage doubler uses capacitors and diodes to double the input voltage, but requires add-ons for good quality output. More capacitors can triple or quadruple the voltage. Incorrect installation can cause explosions.
A voltage doubler is an electrical device that takes alternating current (AC) as its input and outputs direct current (DC) with twice the input voltage, usually to a transformer. There are many different types of voltage doublers, but they all work in essentially the same way. The input voltage is passed through a series of charge-storing capacitors and through charge-directing diodes. Capacitors and diodes are placed to capture and boost the input power, ultimately doubling the output.
In its simplest form, a voltage doubler can consist of nothing more than two components, the diode and the capacitor. In practice, such a system does not work well and requires the use of add-ons to produce good quality output. These add-ons help eliminate spikes and ripples that can be caused during the doubling process, thus allowing the output voltage to be more useful.
A voltage doubler works by capturing the input voltage across a series of capacitors. One capacitor captures voltage forward and another captures current as it moves in the opposite direction. When both capacitors are fully charged, current is released. Since the capacitors are placed in series, meaning both are on the same line, the two captured voltages combine to become a single voltage that is twice the original voltage.
The load on the circuit determines whether a voltage doubler will effectively double the input, since significant drain on the system results in reduced input. The diodes in the doubler prevent the electricity from flowing back to the source. This means that once the voltage passes the diodes, it cannot move backwards and out of the system, only forwards. If a diode is installed incorrectly in a voltage doubler, this creates the possibility of an explosion, as voltage tries to enter and exit the system through the same location.
By increasing the number of capacitors that capture the input voltage, a voltage doubler can be made to triple or even quadruple the input voltage through the use of additional circuitry. As long as the outputs of all capacitors are running in series, the output voltage will be increased. However, there are some security issues with such a setup. An increase in the number of circuits is also considered inconvenient, but will be effective if configured correctly.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
