Power
Explaining what a PSU does and the measurement units
Voltage (V): The electrical potential difference. It’s the force that pushes electric charges through a circuit.
Example: A standard wall outlet in many countries provides about 120V or 230V AC.
Current (I): The flow of electric charge, measured in Amperes (A or Amps).
Example: A device might draw 2A of current from the power source.
Power (P): The rate at which electrical energy is consumed or generated, measured in Watts (W). It is calculated as:
P = V x I
(P=120V×2A=240W)
AC vs DC
Direction
Alternates periodically
Flows in one direction only
Waveform
Sine wave (usually)
Constant (flat line)
Frequency
Measured in Hertz (Hz)
No frequency; steady flow
PSU steps
Input: The PSU draws 120V AC and 1.5A, consuming 180W of power.
Rectification: AC is converted to pulsating DC.
Filtering/Regulation: The output voltage is regulated to a stable 12V DC.
Output: The PSU provides up to 10A at 12V, resulting in a maximum power output of 120W.
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