Why do computer chargers need those big adapters? Why can’t you just connect the devices to the power outlet with a cable?
In: 6802
Oooo I’m in an electronics class rn and we spent a while on this. More or less there’s a bunch of steps to change power from what works well for generation to what works well to power electronics and lights and stuff.
In power plants, there’s huge generators that turn and this rotation makes AC power. AC works much better than DC for long range transmission. Also, power lost due to “pumping” it over long distances like power lines is minimized if it is VERY high voltage and low current.
However, most devices use something like 5-12V and DC current. So to get that from the extremely high voltage AC to low voltage DC a few things need to happen. First is outside of the box, and a local station steps it down from power line voltage to your house and it comes out of your wall at about 110v if you’re in the US. It is still AC though.
Idk if you know what a sine wave looks like, but that’s how the AC voltage looks. Half of it is positive, half is negative before it repeats itself. The first thing that happens is a bunch of diodes (like leds but no light) act as one way valves and turn it all positive, almost like a bunch of McDonald’s arches. The problem now is that if you used this power it would flicker from bright to off, then bringht again.
So, the next thing that happens is a capacitor to smooth it all out. What this does is essentially scoop some off of the peaks and dump it into those valleys to even the whole thing out. It’s kinda like a buffer against too many highs and lows. Now it’s more or less a flat line with instead of arches it’s just a little ripple or wobble to it.
The last is some sort of a regulator that evens it all out to a constant voltage of whatever your device uses. There’s a few different ways to do this, which is why there’s different power brick sizes. However, the general idea is the same because the same steps need to happen.
Hope that helps, lemme know if you have any questions.
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