How does this Voltage Quadrupler work
I have been reading Practical Electronics for Inventors and came across this circuit. I understand how voltage quadruplers work in general, but not this one. Specifically, what is the current path for the first positive half cycle? I'm guessing it can't be c1-d1 since the diode points against the c1, but at the same time it cannot conduct through d2-c2 since it makes no sense that both capacitors could be charged during one half cycle, yet current has to get back to the negative side of the transformer. I also kinda understood from other examples that current cannot conduct through c4 and c2 until c1 charges first. A lot of confusion here. Could anybody help explain?
Posted Jul 17, 2025, 8:34 AM UTC
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