- #1
crissyb1988
- 42
- 0
OK so I've always wanted to learn about how the mains power works in conjunction with things that you plug in ie. phone chargers, computer PSU's, TV's etc.
Now I know here in Australia that in the home we get 240V AC at 50Hz with the standard 3-pin outlets rated at 10Amps. What do the 3 pins represent?
Am I oversimplyfying things if I talk about V=IR? So hooking something directly to the mains and treating it as we would if a circuit was hooked up to a battery with a potential difference. So using the formula, V = 240, R = 24ohms and so the resulting current is 10 amps (too little resistance will allow too much current to flow and we will be left with excess?).
Obviously things don't work like that. I would take a guess and say that when a phone charger is plugged in it converts the AC into DC so that the phone can charge. Does it use transformers? All of those plug packs have a Voltage and Current rating, again how does it know the current before an appliance is plugged into it? Always thought the resistance and voltage determined the current?
Be as in-depth as you like as I have a degree in physics. Also if you have any links or something to point me in the right direction that would be helpful too.
Cheers guys!
Now I know here in Australia that in the home we get 240V AC at 50Hz with the standard 3-pin outlets rated at 10Amps. What do the 3 pins represent?
Am I oversimplyfying things if I talk about V=IR? So hooking something directly to the mains and treating it as we would if a circuit was hooked up to a battery with a potential difference. So using the formula, V = 240, R = 24ohms and so the resulting current is 10 amps (too little resistance will allow too much current to flow and we will be left with excess?).
Obviously things don't work like that. I would take a guess and say that when a phone charger is plugged in it converts the AC into DC so that the phone can charge. Does it use transformers? All of those plug packs have a Voltage and Current rating, again how does it know the current before an appliance is plugged into it? Always thought the resistance and voltage determined the current?
Be as in-depth as you like as I have a degree in physics. Also if you have any links or something to point me in the right direction that would be helpful too.
Cheers guys!