[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: capacitor discharge current



Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com> 


It depends on the load you are discharging into.  An inductor, like a TC
primary circuit, tends to act as a resistance which in effect slows down the
current as it flows in the inductor and builds up the magnetic field.  The
peak discharge current is limited by this effective resistance (and
reactance).

The worst case for your capacitor would be a direct short circuit.  Then the
current would be limited by the resistance of the shorting material and the
internal inductance of the capacitor.

A typical TC primary circuit, with secondary coil in place, is probably in
the range of 5-20 Ohms impedance (inductive reactance plus resistance) which
sets the max current value.  I recall Terry Fritz has taken some
measurements of this information and might post them for you to review.

If you have access to a DSO you can freeze the discharge and actually see
the waveform to measure the values more exactly.  Sometimes a local college
or university will take enough interest in your project to help you make
some measurements on your coil.  It never hurts to wander in and ask.  Try
the physics research dept or the electrical engineering dept.

A nice DSO picture of your waveform will also tell you if you are getting
full energy transfer in the first two or three "notches" for good
efficiency.  If not it may be time to make some adjustments to the coeff. of
coupling by raising the sec coil in small increments to find the "sweet
spot".

Dr. Resonance

 >
 > Hi guy I was wondering some body could tell how calculate discharge
current
 > of a capacitor
 >
 >
 >