Load Current vs Bleeder Current: What's the Difference?

[asdf1]

i'm a little confused about the definition of a load current and bleeder current~ what's the difference between them?

 

[berkeman]

It would help us to answer your question if you described the context of your question, including web URLs if possible. Load current usually would refer to the current that is originated in a voltage or current source, which flows through a load. Bleeder current usually is used in the context of a small current that is used to keep a capacitance discharged.

 

[asdf1]

load current and bleeder currents are both branch currents right? if they're both branch currents, shouldn't they be the same thing?

 

[GENIERE]

load current and bleeder currents are both branch currents right? if they're both branch currents, shouldn't they be the same thing?

Among many things an electrical load in ones home may be a light bulb. It is typically on a different branch circuit than a clothes washer. If there are 20 circuit breakers in your home's main breaker panel, your home has 20 branch circuits. Your computer's power supply may have (probably not) high value bleeder resisters across some large capacitors. When the power supply is turned off the bleeder resistor discharges the capacitor. The discharged capacitor cannot then shock anyone. Bleeder resistors are generally used in high voltage DC circuits. The 12volt DC rail in the computor may feed the motherboard and a disk drive. These would be loads connected in parallel, not banch circuit loads.