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 circuit in Figure 1 provides a low-cost, isolated ac-line monitor that measures ac-line-voltage level and has some other unique capabilities. The analysis of the circuit is straightforward: When ...

When choosing a switch to use in an electrical design project, there is a perception that it is possible to use any switch, provided its current rating is greater than the maximum load in the circuit.

Inductance is the link between electric circuits and magnetic fields. Voltage and current sine waves are in-phase when they peak and cross the zero axis at the same time. However, this rarely happens ...

Juan has been a home inspector for 10 years and runs a successful home inspection company in Richmond, VA. He loves inspecting homes, but his real passion is educating home owners and newer inspectors ...

This is the first of a two-part series on the processes used to find the short circuit current duties of circuit breakers and fuses. In Part 1, we’ll use a simplified power system to illustrate the ...

We've lost power since Thursday night, so I broke down and bought a 5500-watt, gasoline-powered, single-phase generator yesterday. To monitor its status, I've plugged my voltmeter into the house ...

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 ...