Why do we use AC and DC current?
Table of Contents
Why do we use AC and DC current?
Electric current flows in two ways as an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)….A video comparing Alternating Current and Direct Current.
| Alternating Current | Direct Current |
|---|---|
| The rotating magnets cause the change in direction of electric flow. | The steady magnetism makes DC flow in a single direction. |
Why do we use DC current?
Direct current has many uses, from the charging of batteries to large power supplies for electronic systems, motors, and more. High-voltage direct current is used to transmit large amounts of power from remote generation sites or to interconnect alternating current power grids.
Why DC is not used in homes?
Direct current is not used at home because for the same value of the voltage, DC is more lethal than AC since direct current does not go through zero. Electrolytic corrosion is more an issue with direct current.
What uses AC and what uses DC?
AC power is typically used for high power and long distance transmission, while DC power is used for lower power items like computers and other devices. This is because the transistor — the basic building block of integrated circuits — requires a DC voltage.
What is safer AC or DC?
An electric shock has the capacity to induce ventricular fibrillation which can lead to heart failure and death. Avoiding any form of electric shock is preferable, but DC is considered safer in these circumstances as the human body’s threshold to DC is considerably higher than to AC.
What is the advantage of AC current?
A major advantage of alternating current is that its voltage can be modified relatively easily using a transformer, which allows power to be transmitted at very high voltages before being taken down to safer voltages for commercial and residential use.
Why can’t computers use AC?
AC power have high magnitude which can damage the sensitive components of the computer. Even though AC current is passed into the computer power supply board it is changed into the dc current of very low magnitude like 3.5Volts, 5 Volts and 12 volts which in comparison with the AC Current of 110 volts is very low.