2006-10-01 23:49:20 · 4 answers · asked by toon.diva 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) are both electricity.
Alternating Current is a current from which the polarity (plus and minus) are alternating, this means the polarity is changing. The rate at which this happens is called frequency and is expressed in Hertz (Hz). In Europe it is common to have 50Hz, this means the polarity is changing 50 times per second. In the USA this is 60 times per second.
Direct Current is the same electricity but with a fixed polarity, in other words, the plus and minus are not changing.
An adapter, "adapts" (transforms) the voltage to a specified voltage. This voltage can be higher than the input voltage but is often lower than the input voltage.
Sometimes people speak about a transformer when they refer to an adapter, this is wrong. A transformer works only on AC voltage (AC in - AC out)
where as an adapter can be both from AC to DC, AC to AC, DC to AC (often called Inverter) and DC to DC (often called converter).
I hope this answered your question? :)
Kind regards,
Sebastiaan
2006-10-02 02:54:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
AC stands for Alternating Current &
DC stands for Direct Current
2006-10-02 06:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by R. J. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That means that the adapter changes from aletrnate current (AC) to direct current (DC). Alternate current is like electrcity and direct current is like batteries.
2006-10-02 06:54:31 · answer #3 · answered by Princess of Egypt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
alternating current/direct current.
2006-10-02 06:51:39 · answer #4 · answered by HP 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋