What is the formula to calculate AC resistance if the DC resistance is known?

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1188729

2026-08-13 12:05

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AC resistance is the term used to describe the elevated value of resistance due to the reduction in a conductor's effective cross-sectional area due to the the skin effect caused by an alternating current. The skin effect describes how AC current tends to flow towards the surface of a conductor, rather than being distributed across the entire cross-sectional area as is the case for a DC current.

For 50/60 Hz supplies the skin effect is not great and, so, there will not be a great difference between the DC resistance and AC resistance of a winding. Accordingly, it will be very difficult to calculate the winding's AC resistance, as its value is likely to be masked by experimental error and the accuracy of the instruments.

In theory, by using a wattmeter and an ammeter, the resistance of a load -in this case a winding- the readings can be inserted into the equation: R = P/I2. Using a DC supply will reveal the (DC) resistance value, and using an AC supply will reveal the AC resistance value. As explained, a combination of experimental error and instrument accuracy is very likely to mask any actual difference between the two resulting values.

So, at mains' frequencies, the difference between AC resistance and actual (DC) resistance would be very difficult to determine with any degree of accuracy.

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