eli5: how does AC power provide power when it’s just shifting back and forth? Don’t you need to have current going in one direction

Question

eli5: how does AC power provide power when it’s just shifting back and forth? Don’t you need to have current going in one direction

In: 67

Answer 1

Depends on the device, if it’s a heater, ac electric motor or a non-led light then no, straight AC is fine. But many, if not most, devices have a AC to DC converter in their power supply.

AC is just much more efficient at transporting power over large distances.