If you are having a current switch installed, you will likely hear the terms alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). These can be confusing if you do not know much about electricity. To help you, below is information about each of these so you can understand what the electrician is doing.
AC Current Switch
AC current can be used for switches. With this the electrical connection is constantly moving. It does this because AC alternates the switch in different directions.
When electricity is active, electrons are constantly moving. When the electrons start to flow between objects, such as AC systems or electronic devices, this results in electricity. If the electrons flow through something like a copper wire, this is known as electrical current.
The electrical current moves quickly when the device it powers is turned on. This is why you turn on a light, a microwave, your AC unit, etc. they come on immediately.
AC current switches are used with residential properties and with much larger companies, such as industrial power plants that use AC current. This is because AC current can handle a high-power amp. When it comes to the AC current switch used there are different powers available. For example, you can choose a switch that provides a small amount of power for a light switch, but a much more powerful AC current switch for something like a large AC unit.
Direct Current Switch
The main difference in AC current and DC current used for switches is with DC the electricity flows in one direction and does not have the ability to change directions. A common item that is used for DC current is rechargeable batteries. This is because the current does not need to change directions to provide power for batteries. Once the battery is fully charged, the current is transformed into energy. When the battery is being used, this energy turns into electricity.
Direct current switches are not used as much as AC currents because DC electricity cannot handle large items, especially for industrial companies.
It is also known that AC current does not use as much electricity when compared to DC current. This can save you a lot of money in your monthly energy bills.
Talk with the electrician that is installing the current switch for you. They can go over the above information with you in much more details and give you more information about AC and DC power if you are interested in this.
