Transform AC to DC: Understanding Commerical Adapters

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To convert AC to DC in commercial adapters, a bridge rectifier is utilized, which employs diodes to ensure current flows in one direction by converting the negative troughs of the AC sine wave into positive peaks. This process results in a pulsating DC output, which is then smoothed using a capacitor to reduce fluctuations in the waveform. The mechanical analogy compares this system to check valves that ensure water flows in one direction, with a bucket representing the capacitor that stabilizes the flow. Understanding the role of diodes and capacitors is crucial for grasping how these adapters function. This knowledge is essential for anyone interested in electrical engineering and power conversion technologies.
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How do we get a DC from AC. More excately how is this done in comercial adapters (I think they are cold this)?
 
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The chaps in the Electrical Engineering will know more about this than me, but a bridge rectifier is used. As you know, AC usually takes the form of a sine wave. The bridge rectifier uses the directional property of diodes to convert the troughs of the sine waves to peaks, so that the current is now only moving in one direction. A capacitor is then often used to 'smooth' the resulting waveform.

A mechanical analogy might be a network of check valves to make water always flow in a single direction, with a bucket (capacitor!) used to reduce the 'pulses' in flow.
 
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Thanks

Thanks brewnog the link is really helpful. I did think there has to be something with diods somwhere in ther but I never thought there are 2 peres of them. The othere plans on the link are also interesting. Thanks agein! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
 
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