Wien bridge oscillator calculator

Choose a Wien bridge oscillator’s frequency and check its startup gain.

Schematic

Loading CircuitSim schematic…

Results

Nominal oscillation frequency1.59 kHz

Wien bridge feedback magnitude

Feedback fraction

Small-signal amplifier gain	3.2 V/V
Startup loop gain	1.07 V/V

Advanced results

Gain with limiter conducting	2.8 V/V
Nominal period	628.32 µs

How wien bridge oscillator works

R1/R2 and C1/C2 form the matched lead-lag bridge; changing R1 or C1 updates its partner. R3 sets negative feedback with R4 + R5. Back-to-back diodes bypass part of R5 as the amplitude grows, reducing gain. A small initial capacitor voltage starts the simulation.

f_0=\frac{1}{2\pi R_1C_1}

R4 is fixed at 18 kΩ. Small-signal gain must exceed 3 and diode-limited gain must fall below 3. Frequency is nominal; the diode limiter introduces distortion. The public chart is the bridge response, not a prediction of oscillator amplitude.

Change the form inputs or click a component value on the schematic. Choose Try in CircuitSim to simulate the configured circuit.

Do the math

Selected input values
R1	10 kΩ
C1	10 nF
R3	10 kΩ
R5	4 kΩ

Oscillation frequency: $f_0=\frac{1}{2\pi R_1C_1}$
$\frac{1}{2\pi\times100\,\mathrm{\mu s}}$
≈ 1.59 kHz
Startup gain: $A=1+(R_4+R_5)/R_3$
$1+\frac{22\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}{10\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}$
≈ 3.2 V/V
Startup loop gain: $A\beta=A/3$
$3.2/3$
≈ 1.07 V/V

Wien bridge oscillator calculator

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Schematic

Results

How wien bridge oscillator works

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