Why electronics do not use AC.

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Electronics primarily use DC because it provides a stable current flow necessary for digital circuits, where the presence of current represents a "1" and its absence a "0." AC, which fluctuates and can drop to zero multiple times per second, complicates this binary representation and can interfere with time-varying signals. While AC is prevalent in power generation and heavy machinery, most electronic devices rely on DC due to its compatibility with components like transistors and capacitors. Additionally, DC is favored in battery-operated devices, making it more practical for modern electronics. Overall, the preference for DC in electronics stems from its reliability and efficiency in processing signals.
  • #51
What do you mean by voltage games, transformers do not even work with DC signals. So then we would have to use many high voltage semiconductors in series instead... this is much much less reliable than the simple transformer.
 
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  • #52
drmagtri said:
What do you mean by voltage games, transformers do not even work with DC signals. So then we would have to use many high voltage semiconductors in series instead... this is much much less reliable than the simple transformer.

Yes, I am fully aware of this.
Voltage games "step up, step down" sorry for the confusion.

So I am asking how one would do this DC wise, and you answered with what I thought. I was really looking for something that could be adjustable to suit voltage/current as needed. This would require what kind of setup? Variable resistance that is sensitive to... how could this be done in the least painful manner? Has it been done somewhere?
 
  • #53
pgardn said:
Yes, I am fully aware of this.
Voltage games "step up, step down" sorry for the confusion.

So I am asking how one would do this DC wise, and you answered with what I thought. I was really looking for something that could be adjustable to suit voltage/current as needed. This would require what kind of setup? Variable resistance that is sensitive to... how could this be done in the least painful manner? Has it been done somewhere?

I have built a commercial switching regulator circuit which can take anywhere from 30V to 5KV and regulate 60V on the output at several amps... it is possible but it is extremely expensive and orders of magnitude away from the reliability and efficiency of a transformer.
 
  • #54
drmagtri said:
I have built a commercial switching regulator circuit which can take anywhere from 30V to 5KV and regulate 60V on the output at several amps... it is possible but it is extremely expensive and orders of magnitude away from the reliability and efficiency of a transformer.

So its a royal pain, thanks.
 
  • #55
pgardn said:
So its a royal pain, thanks.

Yes, if you wanted to do this.. you need to talk to CREE who is leading the industry with High voltage mosfet die.
 
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