Connecting AC Power Lines: Understanding Wattage & Current

[Idea04]

What is the proper way to connect several ac power lines into one line. So let's say if you had 20 lines and each had a 10 volts and 1 amp of power so 10 watts AC. When connecting them into one line would you have 200 watts. Also with it being alternating what would happen when the current is in its reverse cycle.

 

[stewartcs]

What is the proper way to connect several ac power lines into one line. So let's say if you had 20 lines and each had a 10 volts and 1 amp of power so 10 watts AC. When connecting them into one line would you have 200 watts. Also with it being alternating what would happen when the current is in its reverse cycle.

What type of application? For example, in residential dwellings the mains come into a breaker box and are distributed to various loads.

Are all the lines the same phase and voltage?

CS

 

[berkeman]

What is the proper way to connect several ac power lines into one line. So let's say if you had 20 lines and each had a 10 volts and 1 amp of power so 10 watts AC. When connecting them into one line would you have 200 watts. Also with it being alternating what would happen when the current is in its reverse cycle.

You generally do not combine power sources -- you use a power source that is adequate for the load. There are some specialized situations where power sources are combined, but it takes some special techniques to do it. As stewartcs asks, what is the specific application?