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Which Is Better AC or DC?

  1. AC Electricity

    • Alternating current electricity, or AC for short, is the standard type of power used in homes, businesses and other buildings. The biggest advantage of AC voltage is that it can travel long distances without fizzling out, which is why power lines can supply power to people even if they live nowhere near a power generator.

    DC Electricity

    • Direct current electricity (DC for short) is useful for devices that require little power. Batteries are a good example of this. DC electricity flows in only one direction, from the negative (-) side to the positive (+) side. This is why household batteries are marked with - and + symbols that must be matched with similar symbols on the electronic device being used.

    Bottom Line

    • DC electricity has its uses, but AC electricity is so much more versatile and can meet just about any electricity-related demand there is. The use of a transformer can create high voltages of AC power, allowing it to carry much farther than DC power ever could.

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  • Photo Credit electricity image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com

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