Technical Terms

Nominal (Nominal Value)

The Nominal Value is the designated or theoretical value of a component or parameter, used as a reference point for specifications and design. It represents the "ideal" value under perfect conditions. In practice, the actual, measured value often deviates from the nominal value due to factors such as manufacturing tolerances, environmental conditions, and load effects. For example, a resistor might have a nominal value of 100 ohms (100Ω), but its actual resistance might be 100.2Ω or 99.7Ω. The acceptable deviation from the nominal value is specified by its tolerance (e.g., ±1%). Similarly, when a programmable power supply is set to a nominal output of 12.000 V, the actual measured output might be 12.002 V. This discrepancy can be attributed to the power supply's accuracy limitations and the influence of the connected load. A common real-world example is a car's electrical system, which has a nominal voltage of 12V. However, its actual operating voltage is typically around 13.8V when the engine is running to charge the battery. This highlights how "nominal" serves as a standard reference, distinct from the actual value under operational conditions.

Technical Terms

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