Alternating Current Direct Current

 It is safe to transfer over

1 The amount of energy longer city distances and Practically the voltage of DC cannot travel very far
that can be carried will provide more power. until it begins to lose energy.
The cause of the
2 direction of flow of It is denoted rotating
electrons magnet along the wire. It is denoted steady magnetism along the wire
The frequency of
alternating current will be
either 50Hz or 60Hz
3 depending upon the
Frequency country. The frequency of direct current will be zero.
4 It reverses its direction
Direction while flowing in a circuit. It only flows in one direction in the circuit.
It is the current of
5 magnitude which is varying
Current with time It is the current of constant magnitude.
Here electrons will keep
6 switching the directions – Electrons move steadily in one direction or
Flow of Electrons forward and backward. ‘forward’.
7 The source of availability is
Obtained from A.C Generator and mains. The source of availability is either Cell or Battery.
8
Passive Parameters It is Impedance. Only Resistance
9 It basically Lies between 0
Power Factor & 1. It will be always 1.
It will of different types like
Sinusoidal, Square
10 Trapezoidal, and
Types Triangular. It will be of Pure and pulsating
Applications of AC
 Home and office outlets are used AC.
 Generating and transmission of AC power for long distances is easy.
 Less energy is lost in electrical power transmission for high voltages (> 110kV).
 For higher voltages imply lower currents, and for lower currents less heat is generated
in the power line which is obviously due to low resistance.
 AC can be easily converted from high voltage to low voltage and vice versa with the help
of transformers.
 AC power the electric motors.
 It is also useful for many large appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers etc.
 Direct Current
Almost all electronics projects and parts for sale on SparkFun run on DC. Everything that runs
off of a battery, plugs in to the wall with an AC adapter, or uses a USB cable for power relies on
DC. Examples of DC electronics include:

 Cell phones
 The LilyPad-based D&D Dice Gauntlet
 Flat-screen TVs (AC goes into the TV, which is converted to DC)
 Flashlights
 Hybrid and electric vehicles

Category Long description

FF Very fast acting fuse

F Fast acting fuse

M Medium speed

T Slow Acting Fuse

TT Very Slow Acting Fuse

snail
Slow Acting Fuse
image

Benefits and Uses of a Single Phase AC Power Supply

Single phase power supply units have a broad array of applications. Units that have a limited
power need up to 1000 watts* typically make the most efficient use of a single phase AC
power supply. Generally, benefits of selecting a single phase system include:
 Broad array of application uses
 Most efficient AC power supply for up to 1000 watts
 Fewer design costs
 Less complex designs
(*Note: Although <1000 watts are the normal output for these units, there are some cases
where up to 2500 watts capacity can be reached under certain circumstances. See the Aegis
Power Systems CWA003 spec sheet for an example.)
Benefits and Uses of a Three Phase AC Power Supply
Typical applications for 3 phase systems include data centers, mobile towers, power grids,
shipboard and aircraft, unmanned systems, and any other electronic with a load greater than
1000 watts. Three phase power supplies offer a superior carrying capacity for higher load
systems. Some of the benefits include:
 Reduction of copper consumption
 Fewer safety risks for workers
 Lower labor handling costs
 Greater conductor efficiency
 Ability to run higher power loads


  Automotive-style miniature relay, dust cover is taken off

 A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to

mechanically operate a switch, but other operating principles are also used, such
as solid-state relays. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a
separate low-power signal, or where several circuits must be controlled by one signal.

Infrared proximity sensor.

Optical Proximity sensor in a samsung Smartphone

Smartphone optical proximity sensor without the phone's casing. The sensor itself is the black
object on top of the yellow block below it; this block is actually a board serving as an interposer.
A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any
physical contact.
A proximity sensor often emits an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic
radiation (infrared, for instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal. The object
being sensed is often referred to as the proximity sensor's target. Different proximity sensor
targets demand different sensors. For example, a capacitive proximity sensor or photoelectric
sensor might be suitable for a plastic target; an inductive proximity sensor always requires a
metal target.
n electrical engineering a limit switch is a switch operated by the motion of a machine part or
presence of an object.
They are used for controlling machinery as part of a control system, as a safety interlocks, or
to count objects passing a point.[1] A limit switch is an electromechanical device that consists of
an actuator mechanically linked to a set of contacts. When an object comes into contact with
the actuator, the device operates the contacts to make or break an electrical connection.