RC Charging Table

Percentage of Maximum
Time
Constant

RC Value
Voltage

Current

0.5 time constant

0.5T = 0.5RC

39.3%

60.7%

0.7 time constant

0.7T = 0.7RC

50.3%

49.7%

1.0 time constant

1T = 1RC

63.2%

36.8%

2.0 time constants

2T = 2RC

86.5%

13.5%

3.0 time constants

3T = 3RC

95.0%

5.0%

4.0 time constants

4T = 4RC

98.2%

1.8%

5.0 time constants

5T = 5RC

99.3%

0.7%

Note that as the charging curve for a RC charging circuit is exponential, the capacitor in reality
never becomes 100% fully charged due to the energy stored in the capacitor. So for all practical
purposes, after five time constants a capacitor is considered to be fully charged.
As the voltage across the capacitor Vc changes with time, and is a different value at each time
constant up to 5T, we can calculate this value of capacitor voltage, Vc at any given point, for
example.

RC Charging Circuit Example No1

Calculate the RC time constant, of the following circuit.

The time constant, is found using the formula T = R x C in seconds.

Therefore the time constant is given as: T = R x C = 47k x 1000uF = 47 Secs
a) What value will be the voltage across the capacitor at 0.7 time constants?

At 0.7 time constants ( 0.7T ) Vc = 0.5Vs. Therefore, Vc = 0.5 x 5V = 2.5V

b) What value will be the voltage across the capacitor at 1 time constant?

At 1 time constant ( 1T ) Vc = 0.63Vs. Therefore, Vc = 0.63 x 5V = 3.15V

c) How long will it take to fully charge the capacitor?

The capacitor will be fully charged at 5 time constants.

1 time constant ( 1T ) = 47 seconds, (from above). Therefore, 5T = 5 x 47 = 235 secs
d) The voltage across the Capacitor after 100 seconds?

The voltage formula is given as Vc = V(1 e )

-t/RC

which equals: Vc = 5(1-e

-100/47

RC = 47 seconds from above, Therefore, Vc = 4.4 volts

We have seen that the charge on a capacitor is given by the expression: Q = CV and that when a
voltage is firstly applied to the plates of the capacitor it charges up at a rate determined by its
time constant, . In the next tutorial we will examine the current-voltage relationship of a
discharging capacitor and look at the curves associated with it when the capacitors plates are
shorted togethe