Can I Use a Capacitor to Power My Home Outlet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter indigojoker
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Capacitor
AI Thread Summary
Using a large capacitor across a home outlet can potentially blow a fuse due to the capacitor's reactance to alternating current (AC). In an AC circuit, the capacitor charges and discharges as the current alternates, leading to a specific reactance that behaves similarly to resistance in direct current (DC). The formula for reactance indicates that increasing the capacitance can increase the current, which could exceed the fuse rating, typically around 5 A. Calculating the necessary capacitance to reach this current level is essential to avoid electrical issues. Overall, caution is advised when experimenting with capacitors in home electrical systems.
indigojoker
Messages
240
Reaction score
0
Would I blow a fuse if I put a large capacitor across the outlet of my house?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
We are waiting with baited breath!

Presumably, you have AC. What does the C do in a circuit?
 
charges up right? but what happens when it's in AC?
 
What does AC mean..alternating current...that means the current changes direction with time which means that..the capacitor should charge in one direction and discharge in the other
 
The capacitor has a reactance Rc to AC, which is pretty much similar to resistance in DC.

Rc = I/wC, where w = 2(pi)f. In analogy with DC, V = I*Rc => I = 2(pi)VfC, where V and I are actually the RMS values. V and f are set by the power companies, and you can't do anything about them.

By making C high, you can increase I. To blow a fuse, you need around 5 A of current. Now do the math for what C you need.

SO, when are you planning to do it?
 

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
View full post »

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »

Similar threads

Final Charge of a Capacitor in a Circuit with Capacitors and Resistors
Replies
9
Views
2K
Why can we model spherical capacitor with two dielectrics as two capacitors in series?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Why Capacitors in Parallels vs. Series: Coaxial Capacitor Case
Replies
2
Views
2K
Understanding Capacitor Equations and Time Constants
Replies
11
Views
2K
Can the Voltage Across a Capacitor Be Greater Than the Source Voltage in a Series RLC Circuit?
Replies
3
Views
1K
How does this capacitor circuit not violate conservation of charge?
Replies
11
Views
3K
Capacitor Questions Charging and Discharging
Replies
4
Views
3K
Electric Field Inside Cylindrical Capacitor
Replies
2
Views
2K
Material between capacitor plates - viewed as two capacitors in series
Replies
3
Views
1K
How Do You Calculate Capacitance in a DC Circuit with a Fully Charged Capacitor?
Replies
3
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top