The purpose of a power supply is to turn a power source into the form of electricity that you need. Most well devices convert AC to DC power, but there are also DC to DC power supplies. Knowing the variations between these power supplies and when to use them will help you make an educated purchasing decision when the time comes.
What is alternating current (AC) power?
The regular electricity that comes out of power outlets is alternating current (AC), which is characterized as a charge flow with a periodic change in direction.
The movement of electrons in AC causes the current flow to change from positive to negative. Electrons will travel in either a positive (upward) or negative (downward) direction, and this causes the current flow to change from positive to negative. This is known as the sinusoidal AC wave, and it is generated when power plants use alternators to generate AC power.
What is direct current DC power?
Direct current (DC) power is a linear electrical current that travels in a straight line, as the name suggests.
Batteries, solar panels, fuel cells, and some adapted alternators are all examples of direct current sources. A rectifier that converts AC to DC can also “make” DC power from AC power.
Since DC power is more reliable in terms of voltage output, most electronics rely on it and use DC power sources like batteries. A rectifier, which is often built into a device’s
power supply, may also convert AC power from outlets to DC power. A transformer may also be used to increase or lower the voltage to the desired level for the system.
What’s the point of having two distinct power types?
Although many modern electronics and electrical devices favor DC power for its smooth flow and consistent voltage, we couldn’t live without it. Both types of power are essential, and neither is “better” than the other.
In reality, AC dominates the electricity market; all power outlets carry AC power into houses, even if the current must be converted to DC power immediately. This is because DC cannot travel the same long distances as AC from power plants to buildings. Because of the way generators transform, AC is much easier to produce than DC, and the system is generally less expensive to operate—with AC, electricity can be easily transported through national grids through miles and miles of wire and pylons.
When a computer has to store power in batteries for future use, DC comes into play. Everything battery-powered relies on storing DC electricity, including smartphones, tablets, portable generators, torches, and outdoor CCTV camera systems. As batteries are charged from the mains, AC is converted to DC and stored in the battery by a rectifier.
However, this isn’t the only way of charging. If you’ve ever used a power bank to charge your battery, you’re using a DC power supply rather than an AC one. DC-DC power supplies can be used to adjust the output voltage (in this case, the power bank) for the device’s (in this case, the phone) use in these situations.
Final Words,
The terms AC and DC are used to describe different forms of current flow in a circuit. In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. In alternating current (AC), on the other hand, the direction of electric charge varies regularly.