What is Circuit: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.
Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect low-current circuits or individual household appliance, up to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The generic function of a circuit breaker, or fuse, as an automatic means of removing power from a faulty system is often abbreviated as OCPD (Over Current Protection Device).

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  1. J

    Finding the potential difference in a circuit

    The solution chooses the centre wire to determine the potential difference, where Va−(0.909 A)(2.00 Ω)=Vb and Vb - Va = -1.82 If I choose the top wire (passing through the 12 V battery and 4 Ω resistor), Va - 12 + (1.636 A)(4.00 Ω)=Vb, and Vb - Va is different (= -5.46 V). Why would this path...
  2. PhysicsTest

    Engineering Current Amplification Circuit

    I have taken portions of a schematic for amplifying the current I1, this I1 current is the phase current from one of the legs of the inverter. The output vout1 is the amplified voltage, again given to a micro which has internal opamp. Is my circuit understanding correct? When I give I1 = 10...
  3. PhysicsTest

    Engineering Voltage and current calculation of circuit

    I am trying to find voltages and currents of the below circuit, 3.3 -22000*I2 - 2200(I2-I3) = 0 3.3 -24200*I2 + 2200*I3 = 0 -> eq1 -(10 - I3)*1500 - (I2 - I3)*2200 = 0 -15000 + 1500*I3 - 2200*I2 + 2200*I3=0 -15000 - 2200*I2 + 3700*I3=0 -> eq2 Solving equations 1 and 2 i get I2=0.38 Amps...
  4. core7916

    Troubleshooting a Boost Circuit: Voltage Rise & Gate Issues

    Hello. I am creating a boost circuit and there is a lot of problems while testing. Before creating circuit i have simulated circuit in modelsim. Problems. 1. Sudden voltage rise from 40% to 50 % dury cycle. ( i am checking each duty cycle ) 2. When applying a gate voltage to mosfet the the...
  5. G

    Building a Safe and Efficient Induction Heater Circuit: Tips and Tricks

    If you have not built an induction heater yet it is a fun project. Build the small circuit with 6 yellow capacitors first. Induction heater is a fun project. I built a small induction heater then I wanted a more powerful one. A small unit is so simple you can build it in about 2 hours work...
  6. S

    Instant on - delay off circuit

    I'd guess this kind of circuit is widely used. Is there an IC available that has this functionality? I need a circuit that has a power supply (12V or 24V), an input signal and an output signal. The wanted behavior is: 1) output goes ON immediately when power is connected (independent of input...
  7. physicsclaus

    A Can anyone give me the details of creating a cat state in Circuit QED?

    I am so new to circuit quantum electrodynamics. As far as I know, there are few things I could manipulate, like resonator, qubit resonance frequencies, Hamiltonian, coupling strength, Hilbert-space cutoff, dissipation rate, but they do not make sense to me and I do not how they can relate to my...
  8. S

    Battery circuit current flow when charging

    I would like to know when a alternator is charging a battery is the current flow a series opposing circuit......?
  9. Manuel12

    Rectifier circuit for AC sources with 180˚ phase offset

    In a simple 2-phase generator that I am making, I have 2 pairs of oppositely placed copper coils in arrangement similar to this: I would like the generator to power DC devices. My question is: How could one rectify the output from opposing coils? Or, in other words, how could you rectify 2 AC...
  10. U

    How to Calculate the Complex Op Amp in Circuit Diagram

    TL;DR Summary: How to calculate the operational amplifiers in the circuit diagram Hello Everyone, I am trying to learn the circuit diagram of one of a device in which I will be doing modifications as a part of my Masters's Research to make it performance better. My background is in Mechanical...
  11. PhysicsTest

    Optimizing an Op Amp Current Sense Circuit: Are the Calculations Correct?

    TL;DR Summary: Trying to solve the op amp current sense circuit as per the schematic. I want to solve the below current sense op amp circuit, Are the calculations correct? As of now i modified the circuit by removing the capacitors, i will add them once the above circuit calculations are...
  12. Kyuubi

    Current on Infinite Periodic LC Circuit

    I wrote down the equation of motion for In(t) and I'm trying to match it with infinite spring mass system equation solution. In the spring mass system, we consider A to be the equilibrium length of the springs, and we can thus write Xn(t) = X(nA,t) and put it back into the equation of motion...
  13. P

    Why Does My Varactor Diode Test Circuit Behave Differently on a Breadboard?

    In the circuit simulator there is no voltage at the Varactor cathodes when Vbias is zero, but depending on the Varactor I use on the breadboard it can be as high as 7.4 volts! There is minimal current through the series resistor when Vbias is applied in LTSPICE, but I always see a significant...
  14. supak111

    Calculate current in a 120 VAC circuit with a series 10uF capacitor

    Hi can someone tell me please how much current is passed though below circuit: 120 AC 60Hz mains power going through a 10uF 500v capacitor in series
  15. G

    Power generated by this current source

    Figure: My attempt at a solution: 1st kirchoff law: $$J=2I_0+I_0=6\, \textrm{A}$$ $$V_1+8=10\rightarrow \boxed{V_1=2}$$ $$V_1=6-V_S\rightarrow \boxed{V_S=-4\, \textrm{V}}$$ We are looking for ##P## generated in ##J## $$V_J=V_1-2\cdot J=2-2\cdot 6=-10\, \textrm{V}$$...
  16. F

    Engineering Use voltage nodal analysis to solve for the current flowing in this AC circuit

    Hi first time using this forum, I have some homework that I am entirely stuck on, can anyone help me with this question? I understand the placement of nodes, and that I need to convert complex numbers, but apart from that I have no idea what direction that I'm supposed to take in this. I don't...
  17. core7916

    Help please designing a Piezeoactuator drive circuit

    I want to actuate the piezeoactuator which is taking more than 100vdc. But i have a sorce of less than 30vdc. Can any one tell me what to do.
  18. G

    Thévenin and Norton circuits Exercise

    Figure: My attempt at a solution: a) ##\boxed{V_{TH}}## Current source equations ##\rightarrow \boxed{2=I_2-I_1}## Control variable equations ##\rightarrow V_1=4I_2\rightarrow \boxed{0=4I_2-V_1}## Super Mesh ##\rightarrow -0,5V_1+2I_1+I_2(4+8)-8I_3=0\rghtarrow...
  19. G

    Capacitor Circuit Analysis: How to Find Voltage Across Resistors

    Figure: My attempt at a solution: Once the capacitors have been applied, we see directly that ##\boxed{v_c=v_0=0\, \textrm{V}}## Wouldn't this one be done like this? I know the following: in a circuit with capacitors and coils, if we have Capacitor: we change for an open circuit. Coil: we...
  20. A

    Parallel MOSFET safety diagnostics circuit

    I am now faced with a problem. Part of the circuit I'm making consists of a row of many parallel mosfets. Parallel as in the drains are all tied to a rail and the sources also. I wonder, if one of the mosfets goes bad for whatever reason , how could I be able to tell without physically taking...
  21. alan123hk

    B Understanding Lewin's Circuit Paradox: Explained Simply and Clearly

    I just saw the following clip on youtube It seems that many people are still interested in this topic. Here is the simple clear explanation I came up with, is there any error please ? This means that voltmeter 2 is not measuring the potential difference produced by the charge...
  22. A

    Engineering Why are the voltages calculated in this way? (CE BJT Amp circuit)

    Hello! I am having trouble with this emitter circuit. I am given U0 as well as all of the resistor values and I need to calculate the following. ## I_c## ##U_{CE} ## ## U_{C} ## ## U_{a} ## ##U_{Ca}## ##U _{Re} ## Now important to note that all of these need to be calculated at the working...
  23. ermia

    Solving LC circuit with energy conservation

    krotovs solution is based on energy conservation. My question is that why the solution didn't consider inductors energy? the question: The solution:
  24. Franklie001

    Engineering RLC circuit -- Phasor Transfer Function calculation

    Good morning, I need some help solving those two question. I've attached my attempted solution below. Could i solve the transfer function any further? Thank you for your help
  25. V

    Comp Sci Digital Logic 8 Bit Full Adder Circuit

    I am unsure of how to approach this problem, we begin with two 8-bit full adders, is the goal to just combine them in some way so that it becomes one entire circuit while also adding NAND and NOR gates where necessary? By the end will we then have 16 1-bit full adders?
  26. Iqish

    Nodal analysis of this circuit with 2 sources and 4 resistors

    Here is the question a. Plot nodes in the problem and indicate how many equations will be obtained. answer: two unknown variables b. Use node analysis. Derive the system of equations for the voltages in the circuit. question: Did I calculate right V_a and V_b? C. Calculate the...
  27. N

    I Bell's circuit beginner's question: Sampling alters, - what's normal?

    Yes, I should hit the books more, so forgive the basic question. I take it normality is known by observing unsplit photon spin ? But how can one then exclude that split photons in themselves might have different probability outcomes ? Thx much in advance. (Please pardon that only...
  28. A

    Resistance of this circuit containing a Circular section

    I understand that the two separate parts make 2/3, but where is 1/12 ohm coming from?
  29. A

    The total resistance in a circuit

  30. Salmone

    I Can current flow in an open circuit?

    I have two related but separated questions: 1. If I have an open circuit connected to a battery, let's say an alkaline battery connected to a straight wire and nothing more, once I connect the battery to this wire there will be for a short time a current in the wire? Since in the battery due to...
  31. L

    Maximum charge on the plates of a capacitor

    What I have done: The electromotive force due to Faraday's Law is: ##\mathcal{E}=-\frac{d\phi(\vec{B})}{dt}=\frac{d}{dt}(Ba^2)=a^2\frac{dB}{dt}=-10^{-4}V.## In the circuit, going around the loop in a clockwise fashion: ##\oint_{\Gamma}\vec{E}\cdot d\vec{l}=-\frac{d\phi(\vec{B})}{dt}\Rightarrow...
  32. Echo43

    Resonance of a PWM DC Circuit

    I am experimenting with finding the resonant frequency of water in an attempt to disassociate the H2O bond without high voltage/current and using just tap water - no electrolytes, etc. I know how it works in classic electrolysis but that's not what I am attempting. Assume that there is a...
  33. A

    Mosfet SSR, flyback shunt/crowbar safety circuit

    Hello, as you can see in the attached image I have an opamp driving a BJT transistor that controls the power through a isolated mosfet driver IC that drives 2 series (back to back) N fets performing the duty of a solid state amplifier output relay. Now my concern is this. In case the output to...
  34. A

    Engineering How do I find the differential equation for this circuit?

    Hi, The following circuit is given, where the switch S is closed at time t=0. a) Set up the general differential equation (DE) for the current i(t) and bring the result into the following form## \frac{di(t)}{dt} +c_1 i(t)=c_0,## with the constant terms c0 and c1. Hint: Determine the DE using...
  35. stephen8686

    Questions about Circuit Models of Transmission Lines

    This is for my graduate EM Theory class. My background is physics/optics, so I was able to understand when we solved maxwells eqs. for waves propagating between parallel conducting plates, but that lead into the lumped element circuit model of transmission lines which I don't understand. I've...
  36. greg_rack

    Current flowing through resistor in RLC circuit (C in parallel with L)

    Hello guys, LRC circuits with an AC source are having the best over me... had some confusion in class with respect to which method is best using(phasors diagram, reactances or complex impedances) which I am trying to desperately sort out before my exam; here I will show you my best attempt on...
  37. A

    Engineering Why Is Nodal Analysis Confusing in This Circuit Example?

    Hello! Consider this circuit Now I am susposed to solve this using nodal analysis. The first step is to "prepare the network" so that I can set up the conductance matrix. Now I've tried it for a bit and was not really able to do it. So I went ahead and looked at the solutions and this is how...
  38. A

    Adjusting the Power Factor of an RLC circuit

    a) An inductor should be added because that would cancel out the lag of the voltage with the current so that P = IV is at a maximum since V is ahead of I in an inductor b) ##cos(\phi) = \frac{R}{Z}##, ##R = Zcos(\phi) = 60\times 0.5 = 30 ohms## ##X_l - X_c = \sqrt{Z^2 - R^2} = \sqrt{60^2 -...
  39. A

    RL Circuit Initial Current Simplification

    ##I_2 = \frac{V}{R_3 + R_2}e^{-t/\tau}## ##I_2 = \frac{50}{19.4(2)}e^{-t/\tau}## as t goes to 0, ##I_2 = \frac{50}{19.4(2)}## = 1.29 Amps which is not the answer.
  40. J

    Find the inductance of an inductor in a circuit

    When the current has been running for a while we can treat the circuit connected to e like a battery with two resistors. The current at this point is 2.5 A so using kirchhoff's loop rule we find that the emf of the battery is 2V. $$\varepsilon - IR - IR = 0$$ When the switch flips to f, we can...
  41. L

    Solving Equation to Analyze Steady State Current

    I set up the equation ##V-iR-L\frac{di}{dt}=0##, with ##i(0)## and by solving it I got ##i(t)=\frac{V}{R}(1-e^{-\frac{R}{L}t})##. Then, since the steady state current is ##i_s=\frac{V}{R}## I imposed the condition ##i(t_1)=\frac{9}{10}\frac{V}{R}\Leftrightarrow...
  42. G

    Potential difference of an electric circuit

    The figure is: I have the solution to this problem: We have two distinct branches $$V_a-V_b=\overbrace{(V_a-V_c)}^{\textrm{INI}-\textrm{FIN}}+\overbrace{(V_c-V_b)}^{\textrm{FIN}-\textrm{INI}}$$ They have different intensities: ##3\, \textrm{mA}## and ##2\, \textrm{mA}## ##V_A-V_C\rightarrow##...
  43. L

    Help Needed for Solving Electrical Circuit Problem

    What I have done: (1) ##I(0)=\frac{V}{R}=\frac{1.5}{25}A=0.06 A.## (2) By setting ##I(t*)=0.06(1-e^{-(35/0.4)t*})=35 mA## we get ##t*\approx 0.01 s## What I have done seems correct to me, but the result for part (2) should be different. I would be grateful if someone could point out to me...
  44. C

    Can't find total resistance in a complex star circuit

    [Thread moved from the technical forums to the schoolwork forums by the Mentors] Hi i have this assignment for homework: There is only one battery for the circuit, E=10V, R=4 Ohms and L=1H it asks me to find the time constant of the circuit. i know that a time constant in a RL circuit is t=L/R...
  45. link223

    Engineering Question about a circuit to be solved with Norton's theorem

    Hello guys, I am new here. I was wondering whether I could get some help about the highlighted part. What I don't understand is why we are able to ignore the 5-ohms resistor when we have short circuited terminals a-b. Thanks in advance.
  46. PhysicsTest

    Simple RC Hardware Circuit Understanding -- Questions

    I need to understand the below hardware circuit I am not sure about the type of the signals at signal1 and signal2, i have assumed DC signals initially. Then when i simulated in LT spice, the signal at Output is +5V. But if i assume the signals at signal1 and signal2 as Sine wave, then C1 and...
  47. T

    I Energy of an electron in an electric circuit

    When an electron flows through a circuit say 250V, does it mean the electron possesses 250eV at any time or does it give out a total of 250eV
  48. bluesteels

    AC circuit power formula question

    im kinda confused on why can't you just use the formula P=I^2R. Can you just use Vrms or Vamp (not sure which one is it) and the value of R which is 105Ω to solve for I Then just plug it in the formula P=I^2R. But when i did that it the wrong answer so is this formula don't work for AC...
  49. PhysicsTest

    Understanding this Circuit involving Relays

    I need to understand the below circuit, the RB4, RB5, RB6, RB7 are controlled by the micro controller. The COM2 and COM3 are going as input to the micro. I know when the outputs RB4 to RB7 are ON, the relays will be ON and 3,4 get shorted. But i don't understand the purpose the circuit. Am i...
  50. V

    B Magnetic generator multiple poles. Cancel out or short circuit?

    Science project. Real generator. But self made generator multiple magnets. What happens if I spin bar magnets inside a copper wire ring? Instead of rotating 2 separate copper rings inside a magnet that will split different flowing current on to different wires where a brush can join them...
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