Trace Wattage, I Know, Old Topic, But...

[prowla]

3 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Why RMS?

 

As most AC signals are symmetrical around zero, their mean value is zero.

 

As 'a minus times a minus is a plus' the process of squaring a negative value then finding its root makes it positive.

 

So RMS effectively means 'flipping' the part of a waveform below the zero live and then averaging all the values.

 

If this is reminiscent of calculus, that is because it is. Theoretical RMS values are easily calculated. 

 

True RMS values are more tricky to measure. Most meters assume a sine wave. True rms meters are more complex and costly, although for audio signals a good moving iron meter will do the job.

 

 

Aye - it's a means of saying there is push energy and pull energy going to a speaker; whilst it naturally goes back to its zero position, we want to measure the energy expended on its travels.

[Count Bassie]

4 hours ago, Sparky Mark said:

That I get! 😂

I'll give that info a little time tonight, thanks you guys, I appreciate the interest and help!