Alternating Current

 

1) AC Voltage alternates sinusoidally with time.

2) AC Voltages are specified with a value equal to the DC voltage capable of doing the same amount of work.

3) This value is 1/√2 times the peak voltage and is called the root means square or rms voltage. 1/√2 = 0.707

4) Household line voltages are specified at 120 vac, meaning peak voltage is about 168v.

4) An AC voltage can have a DC component and vice versa. Usually we try and avoid this or filter it out.

 

 

 

 

 

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