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Electrical / Capacitors

RC Time Constant Calculator

Calculate τ and the ideal charging and remaining percentages through five time constants.

RC network

Time constant

One time constant1 s

63.2% charged · 36.8% remaining

1τ · 1 s
63.21% charged · 36.79% remaining
2τ · 2 s
86.47% charged · 13.53% remaining
3τ · 3 s
95.02% charged · 4.98% remaining
4τ · 4 s
98.17% charged · 1.83% remaining
5τ · 5 s
99.33% charged · 0.67% remaining

Percentages describe an ideal first-order step response. “Remaining” is the discharge voltage percentage or the charging error relative to the final voltage.