Answer: Calculating Time to Discharge Capacitor Rated x Micro-Farads

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To calculate the time to discharge a capacitor rated at 1014 microfarads charged to 179V and discharging at a constant current of 163 microamps, it's important to note that the voltage decay is linear, not exponential, when discharging at a constant current. The method for determining the discharge time involves using the formula for linear decay, which is different from the exponential decay typically associated with resistive discharges. The discussion also touches on the initial charging process of the capacitor, although details on that were not provided. The thread was mistakenly posted in the wrong forum, prompting a request for relocation to the appropriate Homework Help section. Overall, understanding the discharge characteristics is crucial for accurate calculations.
James889
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Hi,

If i have a capacitor rated x micro-Farads. And i know that it is charged to a certain voltage.
And it's being discharged by a current. How would i find the time it takes to completely discharge the capacitor?
 
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okay so it's an exponential decay type of function?
I suspect this is really easy. I have that the capacitor is rated at 1014\mu farads
and that it is charged to 179V, and is being discharged at a constant rate of 163\muA
 
Last edited:
James889 said:
okay so it's an exponential decay type of function?
I suspect this is really easy. I have that the capacitor is rated at 1014\mu farads
and that it is charged to 179V, and is being discharged at a constant rate of 163\muA

If you are discharging with a constant current, the voltage decay is not exponential, it is linear.

How exactly is this capacitor being discharged? How did it get to 179V in the first place?
 
Hmm, sorry. I just discovered i posted in the wrong forums.
Forgive me...
 
James889 said:
Hmm, sorry. I just discovered i posted in the wrong forums.
Forgive me...

No worries. Do you want me to move the thread to the Homework Help forums?
 

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