Home
Back
Voltage Ripple Formula:
| From: | To: |
Voltage ripple refers to the small, unwanted residual periodic variation of the DC output voltage within a power supply which has been derived from an alternating current (AC) source. This ripple is due to incomplete suppression of the alternating waveform within the power supply.
The calculator uses the voltage ripple formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the peak-to-peak voltage ripple based on the load current, switching frequency, and output capacitance in a switching power supply.
Details: Calculating voltage ripple is crucial for designing stable power supplies, ensuring proper operation of electronic components, and minimizing electromagnetic interference in electronic circuits.
Tips: Enter load current in Amperes, switching frequency in Hertz, and output capacitance in Farads. All values must be valid positive numbers.
Q1: What causes voltage ripple in power supplies?
A: Voltage ripple is primarily caused by the charging and discharging of capacitors in the power supply circuit and the switching nature of modern power converters.
Q2: How can voltage ripple be reduced?
A: Voltage ripple can be reduced by increasing the output capacitance, increasing the switching frequency, or using more sophisticated filtering techniques.
Q3: What are acceptable voltage ripple levels?
A: Acceptable ripple levels depend on the application. For sensitive digital circuits, ripple should typically be less than 1% of the DC output voltage.
Q4: Does load current affect voltage ripple?
A: Yes, higher load currents typically result in higher voltage ripple, as shown in the formula.
Q5: How does switching frequency affect ripple?
A: Higher switching frequencies generally result in lower voltage ripple, as the capacitor has less time to discharge between charging cycles.