Enter the line frequency and the number of phases into the calculator to determine the ripple frequency.

Ripple Frequency Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Ripple Frequency.

RF = 2*LF*P
  • Where RF is the ripple frequency (hz)
  • LF is the line frequency (hz)
  • #P is the number of phases

To calculate the ripple frequency, multiply the line frequency by 2, then multiply that result by the number of phases.

What is a Ripple Frequency?

Ripple frequency refers to the frequency of small, rapid fluctuations or ripples that occur in an electrical or electronic system. It is a measure of the rate at which these fluctuations occur.

In an alternating current (AC) system, the voltage or current waveform ideally follows a smooth sinusoidal pattern. In reality, various factors can cause small deviations or irregularities in the waveform, resulting in ripples.

These ripples can be caused by factors such as imperfect filtering, switching components, or non-ideal behavior of electronic components.

The ripple frequency is crucial because it provides valuable information about the quality and stability of the power supply or signals in an electronic system. It helps assess the performance and efficiency of power conversion circuits, particularly in applications that require precise and stable voltage levels.

How to Calculate Ripple Frequency?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Ripple Frequency.

First, determine the line frequency. In this example, the line frequency is measured to be 500 hz.

Next, determine the number of phases of the power supply. For this problem, the number of phases is 3.

Finally, calculate the ripple frequency using the formula above:

RF = 2*LF*#P

RF = 2*500*3

RF = 3,000 hz