There are two types of electricity: direct current and alternating current.
There are two methods of electric current. These are direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
Direct current is a method in which electricity always flows in a certain direction, as compared to the flow of a river. It refers to the flow of electricity obtained from batteries, batteries, solar cells, etc.
On the other hand, alternating current (AC) is a method in which the positive and negative sides are constantly switched periodically and the direction of the flow of electricity changes accordingly. This is the flow of electricity obtained from a generator or outlet. The electricity produced at power plants and sent to homes is also transmitted as alternating current.
The diagram below shows the flow of DC and AC electricity.
In direct current, the voltage is always constant, and the electricity flows in a certain direction. In contrast, in alternating current, the voltage periodically changes from positive to negative and from negative to positive, and the direction of the current also periodically changes accordingly.
In direct current, the voltage is always constant, and the electricity flows in a certain direction. In contrast, in alternating current, the voltage periodically changes from positive to negative and from negative to positive, and the direction of the current also periodically changes accordingly.
Characteristics of DC power supply
Direct current, in which electricity always flows in a constant direction, has the following merits and demerits.
Advantages
- No advance or delay in the circuit
- No reactive power is generated
- Can store electricity
Disadvantage
- Current interruption is difficult
- Difficult to convert voltage
- Strong electrolytic effect
In alternating current, the direction of the current is constantly changing. Therefore, when a capacitor or inductor is included in the circuit, for example, there is a delay or advance in the current flowing to the load in relation to the voltage behavior.
However, with direct current, the voltage and the direction of the current are always constant, so the behavior of the capacitors and coils is also always constant. Therefore, in DC, there is no advance or delay in the circuit.
In alternating current (AC), the direction of the current is switched, so not all the electricity passes through the load, and some power is generated just traveling back and forth between the load and the power source. This is called reactive power.
In direct current, all electricity passes through the load because the current always flows in a constant direction. This is the image of a scallop being pushed out. Therefore, no reactive power is generated and power can be used efficiently.
Another advantage of direct current is that it can be stored by batteries, batteries, capacitors, etc.
On the other hand, direct current also has its disadvantages. One of them is that it is difficult to interrupt the current. Since a constant voltage is always applied to direct current, especially when the voltage is high, problems such as arcs (sparks) may occur at the moment of interruption, or there may be a risk of electric shock in the surrounding area.
In the case of alternating current, when the voltage switches from positive to negative or negative to positive, the voltage momentarily drops to zero. If you aim for a time when the voltage is low, you can interrupt the current more safely than with a direct current.
Also, when converting DC voltage, it is necessary to convert it to AC once and then back to DC again. For this reason, DC voltage conversion equipment is larger and more costly than AC.
Another disadvantage of direct current is the severe corrosion of underground pipes and insulators required for power transmission. Since electricity always flows in the same direction in DC, corrosion of power transmission equipment increases due to electrostatic induction and electrical corrosion.
It is direct current that comes out of stored items such as batteries, batteries, and capacitors. Therefore, products powered by batteries are compatible with direct current.
On the other hand, the power supply in an average home is AC current, but what is used in electronic devices such as computers and home appliances such as televisions is DC current. To run such devices, the AC from the outlet is converted to DC using capacitors and other devices.
However, in data centers where DC current is mainly used, the use of DC power supply is being promoted in order to reduce the loss when converting AC to DC.
Characteristics of AC power supply
AC, with its cyclic positive and negative voltage, has the following advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Less power loss due to high voltage transmission
- Easy to transform
- Easy to shut down while power is flowing
- No need to worry about positive and negative voltage
Disadvantages
- Requires a higher voltage than the target voltage
- Affected by coils and capacitors
- Not suitable for ultra-long distance transmission
Especially when transmitting power over long distances, such as from a power plant to an urban area, a very high voltage of 600,000 V (volts) is used to improve transmission efficiency. This is because power loss is much greater when power is transmitted at low voltage.
This is because when electricity is applied to a wire of the same length (resistance) for the same amount of time, heat is generated in proportion to the square of the current. Since heat is energy that escapes, it is a power loss.
For example, if you need 3000W (watts) of power, if the voltage is 100V, you need 30A (amperes) of current, but if the voltage is 1000V, you only need 3A of current.
In other words, if the voltage is increased by a factor of 10, the amount of current will be reduced to 1/10, and the resulting power loss can be reduced to 1/100, or the square of 1/10. For this reason, very high voltages are used for long-distance transmission.
Of course, the voltage as it is cannot be used in homes and offices. The voltage supplied is 100,000V for large factories, 6600V for buildings, and 200V or 100V for homes and offices.
Therefore, electricity sent from a power plant needs to be lowered in voltage to suit the region or location.
Compared to direct current, alternating current can be easily transformed by transformers using transformers, making it more suitable for power supply as infrastructure.
Another advantage of AC is that it is easy to shut down while power is being supplied since the timing at which the voltage drops to zero comes periodically.
It can also be used without distinguishing between positive and negative, like a household power supply (outlet), which simplifies the connection and operation of devices.
On the other hand, AC requires a higher voltage than the target voltage for the required amount of heat because the voltage value is always changing, and there are times when the voltage goes to zero.
The waveform of AC voltage is sinusoidal, and the maximum voltage is √2 times the running value. Insulation performance and equipment specifications must be higher than the effective value.
Another characteristic of AC is that it is strongly affected by coils and capacitors. Coils and capacitors generate voltages that cause the current to flow in the opposite direction of the current direction, causing the current in the circuit to advance or lag.
The electricity generated and sent to a power plant is alternating current. In a power plant, three waves of AC are sent out at the same time, with the waveform of the AC shifted by 120 degrees. This type of electricity is called a three-phase alternating current.
There are two types of AC: one-phase AC and three-phase AC. A three-phase AC is used especially for high-voltage power transmission. When it is sent to a household outlet, it is converted to one phase along with the voltage conversion.
AC is used in general power supplies (outlets) and is used as-is for motors that do not require delicate control, such as vacuum cleaners and ventilation fans.
On the other hand, motors for air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, etc., do not use AC power as it is, but use inverters for fine control.
AC vs. DC Power: What's the Difference?
Direct current (DC) and Alternating current (AC) are common, elemental terms when learning about electrical systems or electronics, but what exactly do they mean? And which one is better?
Both DC and AC describe the flow of charged particles, called electrons, through a wire and the most fundamental difference between the two is the direction in which the electrons flow.
As the name suggests, the electrons in a DC system flow in a single direction at a steady rate. In fact, if you were to graph DC power over time, it would appear to be a straight line from left to right without any fluctuation. Because the voltage remains constant over time, the frequency of DC current is zero. Direct current is generated from batteries, solar panels, or specialized DC power supplies and is used by electronics of all kinds.
In contrast, the electrons in an AC power system behave in a very different manner. Instead of a constant flow from negative pole to a positive pole, the electrons in an AC system flow back and forth or oscillate. When this is graphed for an ideal system, it appears as a sinusoidal wave where the magnitude fluctuates over time between positive and negative. The frequency of AC electricity, or “cycles” per second, depends on where in the world you are located. In the United States, the frequency is 60Hz (60 cycles per second), however most countries use 50Hz (50 cycles per second) as their AC frequency. A typical wall outlet provides AC power and can be used directly by lamps, small appliances, or other devices that do not have electronic components.
When comparing AC vs DC power, it’s not possible to declare one better than the other because both are used throughout homes, businesses, and industries every day. However, there are specific uses where each one has a clear advantage.
| AC: Alternating Current | DC: Direct Current |
| Electrons move in both directions – positive and negative. They continuously switch directions. When electrons move in a positive direction, it is displayed as the upward part of the sinusoidal wave. During the negative flow, the wave drops down. | Electrons move in a straight line and in a single direction: forward. |
| The oscillating between positive and negative is created by alternators at electrical power plants. | DC is generated from batteries, solar panels. |
| AC power cannot be stored. | DC can be stored in batteries. |
| Power coming out of power outlets in buildings is AC. | DC cannot be directly supplied in most homes or businesses. |
| Simple devices, such as lamps or small appliances, may use AC power directly. | Sophisticated electronics, such as computers, televisions, cell phones, or tablets, can plug into AC outlets but must convert the power from AC to DC. The power supply (or “power brick”) that comes with the device uses a rectifier to convert AC to DC so that the device is not damaged by AC power. |
| AC is easier to deliver over long distances. The sinusoidal wave motion of AC helps the power travel farther from the source. | Difficult to change the voltage of DC power or deliver it over long distances as it begins to lose energy quickly. |
| The frequency of AC is either 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on location. The United States uses 60Hz while the rest of the world uses 50Hz. | Because the electrons move at a steady rate, the frequency of DC current is zero. |
| AC power can be rectified to convert it into DC power. | DC power can be changed to AC power by using an inverter. |
Long Distance Transmission
When it comes to delivering power over long distances—think power transmission between a power plant and an electrical substation—AC power is clearly the best choice. To efficiently transmit power over long distances, the voltage level needs to be very high, usually in the range of hundreds of thousands of volts, so that a large amount of power can be transmitted at a lower current so that less power is lost during transmission. The voltage is “stepped up” by using transformers for transmission and then “stepped down” when it reaches a local power substation so that it can be distributed to neighboring homes, businesses, or other customers.
Powering Electronics
From computers to cell phones to television, it would be nearly impossible to get through the day without any number of electronics. One thing they all have in common is their reliance on DC power. The integrated circuitry in each device, comprised of transistors and other components, requires DC voltage to operate. In fact, AC current could easily damage the sensitive components which need constant, steady current.
But if wall outlets provide AC power, how are electronics getting the type of power they need? The answer is that these electronic devices include a power adapter, or power supply, that coverts the AC current to DC. For example, a laptop computer will include a power adapter in between the wall plug and computer that contains a component known as a rectifier for converting AC power into usable DC power. Power adapters can also adjust the voltage to the correct level for the specific device.
Batteries
All batteries use DC power so it’s easy to understand why batteries and electronics go hand in hand. In fact, AC power cannot be stored in batteries or via any other method. Every battery has a positive and negative terminal between which the power flows between at a constant rate. Since electronics rely on DC power, batteries are the ideal power delivery method and have the added advantage of being portable, an essential feature of many electronics.