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Easily calculate capacitor discharge time with our fast and accurate Capacitor Discharge Calculator. Get instant results using simple RC formulas online.
A capacitor stores energy, but it does not hold that energy forever. As soon as you connect a load or resistor, the capacitor starts to discharge. Many users want to know how long a capacitor takes to drop from one voltage to another. This is why we created an easy-to-use Capacitor Discharge Calculator. It gives instant answers without doing any hard math.
This guide explains how capacitor discharge works, the exact formula behind it, and how you can use our calculator to get accurate results in seconds.
A capacitor discharge is the process where stored electrical energy flows out of the capacitor through a resistor or load. As the energy flows, the voltage across the capacitor slowly decreases. The speed of the discharge depends on two things: the capacitance (C) and the resistance (R). Together they form something called the time constant.
The standard and 100% accurate capacitor discharge formula is:
V(t) = V₀ × e^(−t / (R × C))
Another useful formula is the time constant:
τ = R × C
τ (tau) tells you how fast the capacitor discharges. After one time constant, the voltage drops to about 36.8% of the starting voltage.
To find the exact time needed to reach a target voltage:
t = −(R × C) × ln(V(t) / V₀)
These formulas work for all RC discharge circuits and are supported by electronics theory.
Our calculator uses the same scientific formulas above. You only enter four values: initial voltage, final voltage, resistance, and capacitance. The calculator then solves the exponential discharge equation and shows the time it takes for the capacitor to reach the voltage you want.
This saves time, removes confusion, and helps students, hobbyists, and engineers get fast results.
Using the calculator is simple. First, enter the starting voltage of your capacitor. Then type the final voltage you want to reach. Next, enter your resistor value in ohms. After that, enter the capacitance in farads, microfarads, or nanofarads depending on your circuit. Finally, click the calculate button. The calculator instantly shows the discharge time.
You can repeat the process with different values to compare results. This helps when designing power supplies, timers, sensors, or battery-powered circuits.
Accurate discharge timing is important for many real-world applications such as LED dimming, RC timers, camera flashes, power-off delays, sensor circuits, and microcontroller reset systems. A small change in resistance or capacitance can change the discharge time dramatically. This is why using a reliable calculator is essential.
If you have a 1000µF capacitor and a 10kΩ resistor with an initial voltage of 12V, you may want to know how long it takes to drop to 5V. Enter these values into the calculator. It uses the discharge equation and shows the exact discharge time within a fraction of a second.
The Capacitor Discharge Calculator is built to make life simple for anyone working with electronics. Whether you are a student, technician, hobbyist, or engineer, this tool gives clear and accurate results instantly. You do not need to solve exponential equations or worry about mistakes. Just enter your values and get the answer.
If you work with RC circuits, power supplies, LED systems, or timing circuits, this calculator will save your time and help you design better circuits.
Capacitor discharge is the release of stored energy through a resistor or load, causing the voltage to drop over time.
The formula is V(t) = V₀ × e^(−t / RC). It calculates the voltage at any time t.
The time constant τ = R × C. After one τ, the voltage drops to 36.8% of the starting value.
The time depends on resistance, capacitance, and your target voltage. The calculator solves this instantly.
Yes, the formula is based on standard RC circuit theory used worldwide.