1. What is Duty Cycle?

Duty cycle is the fraction of time a system is in an "active" state in relation to the total period of a signal. It's expressed as a percentage and is commonly used in electronics, especially with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the duty cycle formula:

Where:

• \( Pulse Width \) — Duration of the active pulse in seconds
• \( Frequency \) — Number of cycles per second in Hertz (Hz)

Explanation: The formula multiplies the pulse width by the frequency to get the ratio of pulse width to total period, then multiplies by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Duty Cycle Calculation

Details: Duty cycle is crucial in electronics for controlling power delivery, motor speed, LED brightness, and in telecommunications for signal modulation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pulse width in seconds and frequency in Hertz. Both values must be positive numbers. The result will be the duty cycle percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical duty cycle range?
A: Duty cycle typically ranges from 0% (always off) to 100% (always on), with most applications using values between these extremes.

Q2: How does duty cycle relate to power?
A: For a constant voltage, the average power delivered is proportional to the duty cycle (e.g., 50% duty cycle delivers half the power of 100%).

Q3: What's the difference between duty cycle and pulse width?
A: Pulse width is the absolute time duration of the active pulse, while duty cycle is the relative duration compared to the total period.

Q4: Can duty cycle exceed 100%?
A: Normally no, as it represents a percentage of time. Values over 100% would imply overlapping pulses or measurement errors.

Q5: How is duty cycle used in motor control?
A: In PWM motor control, varying the duty cycle changes the average voltage, thus controlling motor speed while maintaining torque.