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AC vs DC

What is a Current?

  • Current is a flow of electrical charge carriers, usually electrons.

  • An electric current always produces a magnetic field.

  • Electric current can be :

  • Alternating Current

  • Direct Current

Difference between AC & DC

AC

DC

VS

  • Bi-directional: Electric current changes direction periodically.

  • Uni-directional: Electic current only flows in one direction.

  • Batteries, solar panel, Generator equipped with the commutator.

Found in

  • AC Generator & power plant.

  • To convert AC to DC, we use Rectifier. 

Converts

  • To convert DC to AC, we use Inverter. 

  • A frequency of AC is 50Hz or 60Hz.

  • Means it alternates 50 times per second.

Frequency

  • The frequency of the direct current is zero.

  • Electrons keep switching directions - forward and backward.

Flow of Electrons

  • Electrons move steadily in one direction or 'forward'.

  • It is the current of magnitude varying with time

Current

  • It is the current of constant magnitude.

  • Types of AC signal.

Types

Sinusoidal wave

Trapezoidal wave

Square wave

Triangular wave

  • Types of DC signals.

Pulsating DC

Pure DC

  • We can not store the AC.

Storage

  • We can store the DC in batteries.

  • Home and office outlets are almost always used in AC.

  • Generating and transporting AC across long distances​​ easy.

  • Can be converted from high voltages easily using transformers.

Application

  • Everything that runs off of a battery, plugs into the wall with an AC adapter or uses a USB cable for power relies on DC.

  • Cell phones

  • Flashlights

  • Flat-screen TVs (AC goes into the TV, which is converted to DC)

  • We can increase or decrease AC voltage using a transformer.

  • We can not use a transformer for DC current.

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