Weird readings???

[FearlessH]

Hey this is my first time on this site and I apologize for any mistakes, posting in wrong forum etc.

I am trying to use multiple capacitors, charging in parallel, to increase my current in my circuit (extra current as I am using a homemade electromagnet) and I have been using a circuit simulator and I have been taking readings. The readings I have been getting are weird as I will put in a 88F, 22F, 4 x 22F (parallel, all discharging in a series), 1mF and I will get a extremely low current. For example both the 22F and and the 88F are giving off a 50mA current through a ammeter, there is a 100Ω resistor that is in series with the ammeter. I also find it weird that a 1mF in the same setup sends 60mA. Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase the current in my circuit, and if my software simulator is not processing correctly, any recommendations?

-KM
Edit: I have added the 88F circuit diagram

 

[(*steve*)]

Can you draw a circuit diagram for us?

I'm not sure how using capacitors will increase your current, and I am somewhat astounded that you have an 88 Farad capacitor.

I have circuits that discharge capacitors of a few hundreds of millionths of a farad at rates exceeding 50 amps.

 

[FearlessH]

The reason why I used a 88F capacitor in the simulator is because 4 x 22F capacitors in parallel add to 88F (am I correct?), but as the picture shows, it is discharging 50mA

 

[(*steve*)]

88F is a bit like a 3000 gallon wine glass. Not totally impossible, but certainly not something you see every day.

What is the purpose of this circuit? Why use a capacitor (and not a battery)?

 

[Resqueline]

Also, you have mentioned capacitance, resistance, and current, but not voltage? 50mA in 100 Ohms equals 5V. Would that happen to be your capacitor starting voltage?

 

[FearlessH]

I actually don't know what the capacitors voltage is as the simulator doesn't tell me, but I am trying to increase the current as I am running an electromagnet and this is the simplistic charge and discharge circuit for it, I am trying to get it so that the discharge is greater than that of a battery which should result in a more powerful electromagnet. Also, I currently have 4 x 2200uf capacitors, 16V, would I be better off just trying it out on an actual circuit?

 

[(*steve*)]

Capacitors and an electromagnet will do nothing.

You need a source of power.

Perhaps you should tell us what you're trying to do.

Oh, and 4 x 2200uF capacitors is 8800uF, or 8.8mF, or 0.0088F

 

[FearlessH]

Well I am making a circuit to discharge a large current through a electromagnet so that it will fire a magnetized projectile out and as a laser trigger is tripped it will stop the current therefore allowing the projectile to continue its flight.

 

[(*steve*)]

In that case, you don't want any resistors at all. You probably want a higher voltage too, and you're going to have to figure out how to damp oscillations.

You're also going to have to be sure you understand how to do this all safely.

edit: Oh, and you're also going to need to have some way to charge the capacitor(s).