Two sides of an electrical coin AC and DC
In the field of electricity, there are two types of currents which are known as AC current and DC current. To understand the difference between both these currents, one needs to understand them in a bit detail. AC is the acronym of Alternating Current and DC is the acronym of Direct Current. Both these currents have different properties and characteristics which are explained in detail below. Alternating Current fluctuates with time, whereas Direct Current is constant with time.
Defining AC and DC according to frequency and their applications
In the modern world majority day-to-day usable electrical equipment operate on AC. There are several advantages of AC over DC. AC is safer than DC because the current is fluctuating in every cycle of time, which means current reaches positive peak value, zero and negative peak value. AC current operates on a particular frequency may it be 50Hz or 60Hz according to the allowed national standard. DC has no frequency it is constant with respect to time. High Voltage AC is highly used for transmission due to minimized transmission losses there are still some losses prevailing. High Voltage DC was not recommended for transmission until now, but with the modern technology HVDC is also used in transmission. All the battery operated equipment is charged by DC only.
From AC and DC which can be stored? Comparing AC and DC.
DC can be stored in cell, battery (combination of cells), fuel cell and solar cell. AC cannot be stored for a longer time. Usage of AC is widespread, but modern technology has also introduced uses of DC. DC is used basically in DC motors moreover cost of DC is less, but its maintenance is easy. Generation of DC is difficult and generation of AC is easy. The equipment used in home, office, etc. are all AC operated. DC electrical equipment is not used in day to day life. Now AC can be of two types depending on the demand, namely single phase AC and three phase AC. Single phase AC is given to the domestic user and three phase AC is given to the industrial user where the demand of power is higher and heavy power consuming machines need to be operated.