AC to DC

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Hi, I was wondering if there is a way to be able to change ac current to dc current, to hook up a car amplifier in a shop?
- levi (age 16)
Sherdian high school, Wyoming
A:
Sure!

The thing you need is called a "power supply", usually. It’s really a "power converter". Some power supplies work by having diode bridge rectifiers (which allow current to flow in only one direction), and then the bumps can be smoothed out by capacitors and resistors. Other power supplies, commonly found in computers, are "switching power supplies".

Some power supplies are "regulated power supplies" which use semiconductors again to shunt current around when the voltage goes out of tolerance.

These are quite common, as power is distributed in AC form for purposes of economy (high-voltage transmission is the cheapest, and AC power can easily be converted from one voltage to another, using transformers). But many uses of electricity require DC power. Go to any electronics or computer parts store or even automotive parts store and you will probably find loads of these things.

Tom

(published on 10/22/2007)