AC and DC adapters

"Mike S."

** The former is just an iron core transformer in a plastic box - while the latter has additional rectifier /filter components to create a DC voltage ( ie just like a battery) from the AC output of the transformer. ** A DC adaptor simply replaces a the job normally done by a battery. An AC adaptor however, allows the designer of some particular device a much wider range of options.

With an AC adaptor as the supply, a designer can easily generate

*simultaneous* positive and a negative DC voltages AS WELL AS boost the voltage to way more than the AC voltage would suggest.

Eg .

From a single 9 volt AC supply, one can easily generate + 12 volts and - 12 volts, + 24 volts and - 24 volts, + 48 volt and -48 volts simultaneously.

........ Phil

Do you mean the things you stick in the wall power outlet, to power small appliances? AC means alternating current, DC means direct current - you can look those up. The power supplies, as they are sometimes called, can be of either type. Some appliances are happy to run on AC, for example low-voltage lights. Other appliances need DC - for example those that can use batteries as well. AC power supplies are just transformers that change the higher voltage to a lower one. DC power supplies have added circuitry, to make the AC to DC conversion, called rectification. They might also have filter components to provide smoother output, and regulation circuitry to provide more constant voltage. More complicated supplies change the line frequency to something much higher, before transformation. This results in a smaller power supply.

Mike S. wrote:

"Jordan"

** Fuck off - imbecile.

........ Phil