Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1

Chapter 16. AC-DC power supply

power > conversion > AC-DC power supply

Also known as an AC adapter. When packaged as a palm-sized plastic package that plugs directly into a power outlet, it is occasionally known colloquially as a wall-wart.

Other related components

• transformer (See Chapter 15)
• DC-DC converter (See Chapter 17)
• DC-AC inverter (See Chapter 18)

What It Does

An AC-DC power supply converts alternating current (AC) into the direct current (DC) that most electronic devices require, usually at a lower voltage. Thus, despite its name, a power supply actually requires an external supply of power to operate.

Larger products, such as computers or stereo equipment, generally have a power supply contained within the device, enabling it to plug ...