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Explanation of different current/voltage types: RMS, Peak, Mean, DC, AC

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Discussion in 'General Electronics Discussion' started by huynh213, Apr 12, 2016.

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  1. Apr 12, 2016 #1
    huynh213

    huynh213

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    Apr 12, 2016
    Hello,

    As I use Digital Power Meter to capture current and voltage data out of my systems, I often see different types of current or voltage (Peak, Mean, DC, AC, RMS, RMN). Since I normally just use RMS or Peak for my calculation, I wonder if some of you can help me cover some other types so that I can have a better understanding of those.

    I've been trying to Google a bit but couldn't find out any good sources that cover these material.
     
  2. Apr 12, 2016 #2
    duke37

    duke37

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    DC Direct current, also used for voltage. This is where the voltage and current are constant and of only one polarity. The simplest to deal with.
    AC Alternating voltage/current. This may apply to sine wave or any other wave shape where the current changes sine.
    RMS Root Mean Square. This applies to AC and is the voltage/current that will give the same heating in a resistor as DC
    Peak is the maximum voltage which is seen, it may be positive or negative.
    Mean is the average of varying voltage/current.
    RMN No idea.

    Of you have an AC sine wave, then the peak is root 2 * RMS and the mean is RMS*0.9
    Other wave forms may be vastly different.
     
  3. Apr 12, 2016 #3
    davenn

    davenn Moderator

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    where the voltage is reasonably constant, the current can be varying continuously, it is still DC

    you may want to reword that a little as well ;)
     
  4. Apr 12, 2016 #4
    duke37

    duke37

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    I looked up Wikipedia and they specify DC as one polarity and AC as repeatedly varying polarity.
    I am used to circuits where the DC varies and can be considered a mixture of AC and DC.

    Pehaps I shouldn't have tried to make a concise definition. Colin seems to think I do not know what I am talking about, maybe he is right.:)
     
  5. Apr 12, 2016 #5
    dorke

    dorke

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    Welcome to EP.
    Please explain what is RMN?
    Where have you seen that?
     
    davenn likes this.
  6. Apr 13, 2016 #6
    davenn

    davenn Moderator

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    it was really to point out that for DC the voltage is reasonably stable, say from a battery/PSU but the current can be fluctuating considerably
    say the varying load of a DC electric motor

    A changing DC is OK as long as it isn't regularly cyclic in its variations .... it's just called varying DC
    if it is regularly cyclic .. a pure or complex sinewave for example, then it is an AC signal

    making a clearer definition would have helped :)

    And I wouldn't worry about what Colin says too much :rolleyes:
    he gives us mod's enough to worry about ;)

    your presence on Electronics Point is always appreciated, thankyou :)


    Dave
     
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