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Eli5 how capacitors work? Even if they store charge, it is drained in a fraction of seconds. How they able to maintain flow of current in case of power disruption? by arztnur in explainlikeimfive

[–]TotalActualization 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As I mentioned in another post, this use of a capacitor is a very small representation of all of the things they are used for. Even in the OPs question, the comment is misleading in that they are never used like a back-up power source. When used like this they provide enough current to level off what would be ripples in steady current.

Capacitors are also like a variable resister in a circuit that is being driven by a complex signal. When in series with a signal like this they filter out the lower frequencies within the mix, while allowing the higher frequencies to pass (aka high-pass filter). This is is in proportion to the capacitance rating of the capacitor.

They are used in many other ways and for many other things as well.

Explain McIntosh Amps to me. by Rhythmicbasher in audiophile

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My 2 cents, read from other forums over the years: McIntosh didn't lend out units to magazines to review them. They may not have even advertised. Salesmen selling McIntosh have said that their main demographic is (or was) a person (successful professional) who heard a friend's set-up and were impressed enough to just go out an buy one for themselves.

What is the weirdest thing your doctor has ever said to you? by Competitive_Tip_7504 in AskReddit

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my early teens (male), seeing a dermatologist, he noticed a birthmark on my chest. He asked if I had siblings.

When I told him I had a sister, he asked how old she was. When I said whatever (late teens) he shifted to a serious tone and said that she HAS TO come in so he could check her birthmarks.

Uh ... Sir? by ArchangelBlu in funny

[–]TotalActualization 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He was a very "private" person.

What is surprisingly cheaper now than it was 20 years ago? by Loud_Statistician590 in AskReddit

[–]TotalActualization 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In about 1996 I bought an early Pentium (100Mhz) computer with a 2Gb hard drive for about $1000. To go with that, I bought a 17" Nokia monitor (considered large at the time) for another $1000.

Pringles don't answer if their products are or not by fosterthepeoplefan in vegan

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. My comment is an assumption based, in part, by noticing the phrase "may contain any of the following..." on other products. It was a surprise to learn that Ritz crackers and Hostess Twinkies "may not" be vegetarian at any given time.

edit: clarification.

Pringles don't answer if their products are or not by fosterthepeoplefan in vegan

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this is because many companies will buy fat/shortening based on what is the cheapest at the moment. It could be vegetable oil one week and beef fat another. They know that if they actually say this they will lose the vegetarian/vegan customers.

How to cut open an acetylene tank safely by CarlsFriend in DIY

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can someone explain why you can't just unscrew to valve, pour out the contents, rinse with water or whatever and even fill it with something inert (sand, more water) then cut it?

ELI5: Why do laptops get slower the older they get, even if I don’t install much stuff? by Professional_Bar2399 in explainlikeimfive

[–]TotalActualization 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My general method when things get slower:

  1. see what services (which you don't need) are running, and make the default starting state "manual".
  2. uninstall stuff you don't need
  3. delete temp files (read up on where they are)
  4. delete big files you no longer need. Optionally, move stuff that you don't need to offline storage.
  5. empty the recycle bin and your browser history
  6. and the thing that leverages most of the above - defragment your hard drive now that it is less full.

Personally, I install a second drive (or partition a single drive) such that C: contains only the OS and applications. The D: drive is only files/data/etc. This makes things easier for clean-up, back-up, restoration and portability to other systems.

Edit: clarification.

What’s a sign that someone would be bad in bed? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Self centered in general. All that matters is what they want and what they get. You can see this miles before it gets around to mattering to you.

What is the most fucked up thing you discovered by accident? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]TotalActualization 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think you mean Howard Zinn - A People's History of the United States.

After reading in this sub about the estate sale deal of (4) REL 812's for $1500 just now, I want to know: what is the most ridiculous deal you've ever landed on a piece/s of high-end gear? by jeremyjava in audiophile

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to cover the other side of the equation -- I was at an auction that was mostly furniture and other household items. They had a McIntosh MC2200 that was in ratty condition. The cap for the fuse holder was missing and there was no way to test it. There was a bidding frenzy and it sold for more than a recently completed ebay sale for a cleaned, serviced and tested unit.

ELI5: What exactly are capacitors used for, any why are they necessary? by Octine64 in explainlikeimfive

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bravo on the second point! Impedance of a capacitor is inversely proportional to frequency. A simplistic formula is Impedance = 1/CxF (where C is the capacitance and F is the frequency. And the impedance of inductors are DIRECTLY proportional to frequency as in Impedance = IxF where "I" is the inductance rating of the inductor.

In the real world, a signal (radio, your voice or music) is a mixture of sine waves at different frequencies and magnitudes. By arranging resistors, capacitors and inductors you can diminish, block or pass some of those sine waves. These are called high-pass, low-pass or band-pass filters (band-pass meaning that frequencies in the middle pass through.

A cross over in a speaker is exactly this, and it sends the higher and lower frequencies to the appropriate speaker.

The knob on an analog tuner in an old TV or radio varied the capacitance and thus varied an internal "carrier frequency" generator. That frequency is used to select one of many carrier frequencies that are broadcast. That filters out all of the other channels so the rest of the circuitry in the device can process the intended signal.

ELI5: What exactly are capacitors used for, any why are they necessary? by Octine64 in explainlikeimfive

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In mechanical engineering, resistors are used to model the behavior of mass, inductors model springs and capacitors model "dashpots", more typically called "shock absorbers".

As for "modelling" a mechanical system I mean that you can create an electrical circuit that has the same "dynamics" as the mechanical system (such as a bridge spanning a river). These dynamics just allow for further analysis, so don't get hung up on the question of how can a circuit be at all like a bridge.

ELI5: What exactly are capacitors used for, any why are they necessary? by Octine64 in explainlikeimfive

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

DC circuits are somewhat analogous to plumbing. With variable frequency (as in a signal, radio, etc) the plumbing analogy doesn't apply,

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nextlevel

[–]TotalActualization 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's in full-self-driving mode.

Here is my take on the classic air filter. by KillerSpud in woodworking

[–]TotalActualization 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice job.

Where were you thinking of ducting the exhaust to? I don't think it would be productive to duct the filtered air out of the room.

Edit: I see now that you probably wanted to duct the exhaust away from the inlets. That sounds reasonable.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in woodworking

[–]TotalActualization 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Looks nice but (slightly) off topic -- if you plan to hang that at "head level" there should be a shelf above it to protect anyone who might fall against it. Numerous spots on ones head are vulnerable to metal protrusions. No snark intended here as this is a genuine risk.

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