Totally ,
A 10v peak to peak sine wave can have many names , and definitions.
E.g. in the 10 kv line , one could be looking at removing the sine wave , so it could be called noise
Or it could be a control signal , so it's called modulation
English is wonderful , I only realised when I started working around world , and one has to be very aware of context

Lovely one , one company called a rack what the client called a shelf .

People always give me strange looks when we say "torch" instead of "flashlight", "bonnet" for "hood", "boot" for "trunk".

 

As long as you guys are arguing the mundane semantics of AC vs. DC, keep in mind these are the steady-state side of the equation.

Now, argue: "Does a series capacitor prefer steady-state signals, or transient?"

This ought to be fun

 

How about a mains AC to DC converter, labeled as such, which due to poor filtering has ripple in its DC output. Would that ripple mean that this converter is outputting AC?

It IS DC with a ripple voltage, which, since the ripple voltage is usually less than the DC portion, is still DC. So it really is DC with ripple. Any technically educated person will understand exactly what that means. Others may not have a clue.

 

Now, argue: "Does a series capacitor prefer steady-state signals, or transient?"

This ought to be fun

Define " prefer ".

 

Hi Guys,
Please keep on the TS's Topic.

Moderation

 

You didn't state what sort of capacitor. If it's a polarised electrolytic capacitor, then it doesn't like any negative voltage.

 

You didn't state what sort of capacitor. If it's a polarised electrolytic capacitor, then it doesn't like any negative voltage.

I mentioned that in a follow-up comment comment that I will add it to the original post. Ceramic.

 

Does a properly designed and manufactured ceramic capacitor fit for the job prefer a DC voltage or AC with DC added?

It doesn’t care.

 

Does a properly designed and manufactured ceramic capacitor fit for the job prefer a DC voltage or AC with DC added?

It doesn’t care.

Which job?

 

Which job?

Any job. You select components to meet the requirements of the application.

 

Any job. You select components to meet the requirements of the application.

That seems irrelevant to the question. If the capacitor does not meet the requirements of the job, then it will not work with any kind of waveform. And if it does me the requirements of the job, then the question remains: which is better, unipolar or bipolar?

 

We could also say we have a DC voltage carrier that is AM modulated by an AC signal.
This is similar to AM radio except the carrier is an RF frequency modulated by an analog signal,
voice, music etc.

Link discussing capacitor quality by chemist Karl A Weber Ph.D, which might help with the discussion.

https://audience-av.com/oem-diy-parts/axo_description/a_chemistview-html/

Cheers
pos

 

hi johny,
This video link shows details of capacitors parameters that I think you may find interesting, regarding your original question.
The Author Prof Sam Ben Yaakov has other videos on capacitor parameters.

E

 

[/QUOTE]

That seems irrelevant to the question. If the capacitor does not meet the requirements of the job, then it will not work with any kind of waveform. And if it does meet the requirements of the job, then the question remains: which is better, unipolar or bipolar?

If a cap meets the requirements of the job, neither unipolar nor bipolar is "better", since the unipolar/bipolar waveform already defines at least one of the requirements for the most appropriate cap.

Por ejemplo: A Class 1, 0.01uF 50V ceramic capacitor would be fine for coupling where DC bias is present, but a Class 2 ceramic cap with the same voltage and capacitance ratings in the same application could have an apparent capacitance of 0.003uF or less. Class 2 dielectrics do not like unipolar operation, so they don't meet the job requirements - although they will "work", to a degree.

 

We could also say we have a DC voltage carrier that is AM modulated by an AC signal.
This is similar to AM radio except the carrier is an RF frequency modulated by an analog signal,
voice, music etc.

I may be incorrect, but I don't think it's similar. In AM radio an AC carrier is modulated by an AC signal. It's not DC modulated by AC. In this question there is no modulation happening at all.

 

It's not DC modulated by AC.

I believe he is saying that an AC signal with a DC offset could be viewed as a DC voltage modulated by the AC signal.

 

hi johny,
This video link shows details of capacitors parameters that I think you may find interesting, regarding your original question.
The Author Prof Sam Ben Yaakov has other videos on capacitor parametets

Thanks, Ben is great. I have corresponded with him on other questions. But he's super busy so I can't ask for too much.

Is there a specific part of the video that you think answers the question, or...

 

I believe he is saying that an AC signal with a DC offset could be viewed as a DC voltage modulated by the AC signal.

Okay, not sure if that resolves the definition of AC versus DC, If that was the intention.

 

Okay, not sure if that resolves the definition of AC versus DC, If that was the intention.

Don't think so.
But I think the common usage definition of AC works well, not the definition that basically applies only to mains AC power.

 

Don't think so.
But I think the common usage definition of AC works well, not the definition that basically applies only to mains AC power.

I didn't notice anyone say AC only applies to mains. Rather I thought some of us feel there must be alternating forward and reverse current to be called AC.