Alternating current (ac) or direct current (dc) circuits are capable of carrying very different currents, as illustrated by the ratings on the switch in Figure 1. This is why it’s so important for ...

Editor's Note: Here's another take on the transformerless AC line power supply, which finds use in some well-insulated, low-power devices. Our technical reviewer pointed out that C ac should be an ...

The previous tutorials featured resistors in direct current (DC) circuits wherein the voltage and current have been assumed to be of constant polarity, flow and direction. The voltage, current and ...

The battery as we know it today was an invention of Italian chemist and physicist Alessandro Volta. He witnessed electricity splitting water into its constituent elements of oxygen and hydrogen and ...

This video explains how capacitors work and why they are essential in modern electronics. Capacitors store and release ...

This video explains how inductors work and how they store energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through them. Inductors are passive components used to resist sudden changes in ...

Churning with voltage and resembling an explosion at the wire factory, the breaker panel exudes mystique. But it's just a big switch, filled with other smaller ­switches, which lead to the switches ...

For motor applications, engineers have several options at their disposal. Typically, engineers can choose between direct-current (DC) or alternating-current (AC) motors. Machine Design has covered the ...

So you have power circuit breakers at your facility, and they seem to be just fine, sitting there quietly doing their job. What you may not realize is that even though your circuit breakers are ...

Find a downloadable version of this story in pdf format at the end of the story. Although features and functionality attract the most attention for new electronic products, whether consumer, ...