What is AC Power?

Question

I am trying to install Windows XP and in the middle of installation it stopped to tell me that it failed because the computer must be on AC Power?

Answer 1

AC power is electic power versus battery power. AC is electric.

Answer 2

Either your battery was running low, or you were using the wrong kind of electricity.

Some info on AC current:

Alternating current or AC electricity is the type of electricity commonly used in homes and businesses throughout the world. While the flow of electrons through a wire in direct current (DC) electricity is continuous in one direction, the current in AC electricity alternates in direction. The back-and-forth motion occurs between 50 and 60 times per second, depending on the electrical system of the country. AC is created by an AC electric generator, which determines the frequency. What is special about AC electricity is that the voltage in can be readily changed, thus making it more suitable for long-distance transmission than DC electricity. But also, AC can employ capacitors and inductors in electronic circuitry, allowing for a wide range of applications.

(By Ron Kurtus)

Answer 3

AC power is a reference to wall current. In other words, the computer needs to be plugged into a wall outlet, not running off the internal battery.

"AC" is a reference to alternating current. This is the type of electrical current that is delivered to wall outlets. Batteries produce direct current.

You are obviously using a notebook computer. Just plug the notebook into the wall to do the installation.

Answer 4

AC stands for alternating current.. it is what comes out of the wall. I am guessing you are using a laptop? Direct current is the other type of electricity and it is what a battery provides. Plug your computer into the wall and you should be good. I don't know why Microsoft can't just say... plug your computer into the wall... well I guess then someone would try something crazy...

Answer 5

A C is the typical Alternating Current that is used in power distribution, as opposed to Direct Current, which is usually battery power. Plug your computer in the wall.

Answer 6

it must use AC(alternating current..your wall outlet..) and NOT DC(Direct current.)
AC:
An alternating current (AC) is an electrical current whose magnitude and direction vary cyclically, as opposed to direct current, whose direction remains constant. The usual waveform of an AC power circuit is a sine wave, as this results in the most efficient transmission of energy. However in certain applications different waveforms are used, such as triangular or square waves.

Used generically, AC refers to the form in which electricity is delivered to businesses and residences. However, audio and radio signals carried on electrical wire are also examples of alternating current. In these applications, an important goal is often the recovery of information encoded (or modulated) onto the AC signal.

DC:
Direct current (DC or "continuous current") is the constant flow of electric charge from high to low potential. This is typically in a conductor such as a wire, but can also be through semiconductors, insulators, or even through a vacuum as in electron or ion beams. In direct current, the electric charges flow in the same direction, distinguishing it from alternating current (AC). A term formerly used for direct current was Galvanic current.

Types of direct currentThe first commercial electric power transmission (developed by Thomas Edison in the late nineteenth century) used direct current. Because alternating current is more convenient than direct current for electric power distribution and transmission, today nearly all electric power transmission uses alternating current

Answer 7

AC Power means "alternating current", i.e.: plug it in to a wall outlet. The installation program believes you are running off battery power.

The error message from Windows is just poorly-worded.

Answer 8

It needs to be plugged in to the wall...
I'm guessing that this is a laptop, and that the installer simply doesn't want to risk running out of battery power halfway through the installation

Answer 9

AC means alternating current. That is a normal household plug. DC power is direct current, which is a battery.

Answer 10

As opposed to DC Power, which stands for "Direct Current", AC Power, which is used in the US, stands for "Alternating Current".