13/05/2026
Need higher DC voltage without a bulky transformer? This circuit gets it done using a voltage multiplier.
An AC signal feeds a chain of diodes and capacitors. On each half-cycle, the diodes steer current so the capacitors charge and stack on top of each other. Instead of just rectifying, the circuit “adds” voltages stage by stage.
In the first stage, the capacitor charges to the peak input (Vp). In the next cycle, that stored voltage is combined with the input to charge the next capacitor higher. This process repeats across all stages.
By the end, the output reaches about 4× the input peak (4Vp). That’s why it’s called a quadrupler.
The output isn’t perfectly smooth. You’ll notice ripple because the capacitors slightly discharge between cycles. Larger capacitors or lighter loads help reduce this.
This design is commonly used in high-voltage, low-current applications like CRTs, X-ray supplies, and voltage generators.
