1. What is Duty Cycle?

Duty Cycle is the fraction of time a system is in an "active" state in relation to the total time under consideration. It's typically expressed as a percentage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Duty Cycle formula:

Where:

• \( On\ Time \) — Duration the system is active (seconds)
• \( Total\ Time \) — Total period of the cycle (seconds)
• \( DC \) — Duty Cycle (percentage)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the total time period the system is active.

3. Importance of Duty Cycle Calculation

Details: Duty Cycle is crucial in electronics, signal processing, and power systems to understand the active vs. inactive periods of a signal or device. It affects power consumption, heat generation, and system performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both On Time and Total Time in seconds. On Time must be less than or equal to Total Time. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical duty cycle range?
A: Duty Cycle ranges from 0% (always off) to 100% (always on). Common values depend on application (e.g., PWM signals often use 10-90%).

Q2: How does duty cycle relate to power?
A: For digital signals, average power is proportional to duty cycle. A 50% duty cycle means average power is half of peak power.

Q3: What's the difference between duty cycle and frequency?
A: Frequency determines how often a cycle repeats, while duty cycle determines what portion of each cycle is active.

Q4: Can duty cycle exceed 100%?
A: No, by definition duty cycle cannot exceed 100% as On Time cannot be greater than Total Time.

Q5: Where is duty cycle commonly used?
A: PWM motor control, LED dimming, switching power supplies, digital signal processing, and pulse measurement.