- #1
DaveC426913
Gold Member
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I took Electricity in HS and Electronics in Continuing Ed, and I still get tripped up over this very basic question.
A household circuit with no resistance - a short - will allow enough current through to burn it out.
A household circuit with a giant resistor can power a tiny nightlight, by reducing the current flow.
How is a 1500w hairdryer able to "draw" 10 amps if the coils are basically a giant resistor?
Is it a balancing act? The coils let enough current through to heat the coils, but not enough to reduce off the current to a trickle?
If so, how does the giant resistor in the night light circuit not heat up as hot as the coils in the hairdryer circuit?
A household circuit with no resistance - a short - will allow enough current through to burn it out.
A household circuit with a giant resistor can power a tiny nightlight, by reducing the current flow.
How is a 1500w hairdryer able to "draw" 10 amps if the coils are basically a giant resistor?
Is it a balancing act? The coils let enough current through to heat the coils, but not enough to reduce off the current to a trickle?
If so, how does the giant resistor in the night light circuit not heat up as hot as the coils in the hairdryer circuit?