Electronics - Power-supply Circuits

Power-supply circuits

Electronic equipment usually operates on direct current (DC) power supplies because these are more easily regulated. Power supplies in electrical outlets, however, are alternating currents (AC), so electronic equipment must be able to convert AC to DC. A team of devices is used for this conversion. The piece of equipment has an internal transformer that adjusts the voltage it receives from the outlet up or down to suit operation of the equipment. The transformer is also a ground, a type of insulation that reduces the possibility of electrical shock. A rectifier converts AC to DC, and a capacitor filters the converted voltage to level out any fluctuations. A voltage regulator may take the place of the capacitor, especially in more sophisticated equipment; modern voltage regulators are manufactured as integrated circuits.