Peak-valley value

The peak-valley value or the oscillation width ( fluctuation ) indicates in oscillation theory the amount of deflection of a variable from the lowest value to the highest value during a period . An earlier term was top-top-value . In the case of symmetrical alternating quantities, the peak-valley value corresponds to twice the maximum value.

Sinus AC voltage:
1 = amplitude ,
2 = peak-valley value,
3 = effective value ,
4 = period duration

The peak-valley value of an electrical voltage can be measured with the oscilloscope as the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. The oscillation range of an alternating voltage is the sum of the maximum voltage of the positive half- oscillation and the amount of the minimum voltage of the negative half- oscillation .

The specification of a concrete value of a signal must contain the size. A distinction is made using the example of a voltage

• the instantaneous value ${\displaystyle u}$
• the maximum value (with any periodic voltage), the peak value (with any alternating voltage) or the amplitude (with sinusoidal alternating voltage) or ${\displaystyle {\hat {u}}}$ ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {s} }}$
• the peak-valley value   or ${\displaystyle {\underset {{}^{\lor }}{\overset {{}_{\land }}{\!u}}}}$ ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {ss} }}$
• the rms value or ${\displaystyle U}$ ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {eff} }}$

Example : The sinusoidal European mains voltage for private consumers is specified as an effective value = 230 V. It has a peak value of = 325 V and an oscillation width of = 650 V. ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {eff} }}$ ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {s} }}$ ${\displaystyle U_{\mathrm {ss} }}$

The information only applies to periodic processes and not to transient processes .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ IEC 60050, see DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies in DIN and VDE: Internationales Electrotechnical Dictionary - IEV .
2. ↑ DIN 5483-1: 1983: Time-dependent quantities; Names of time dependency .
3. ↑ ^{a b} DIN 40110-1: 1994: AC quantities; Two-wire circuits .