What does an AC wall plug do? Also referred to as a power supply or power adaptor, an AC adaptor plugs into a standard electrical outlet and converts the AC electrical current from the wall outlet to the specifications needed by the electrical device that's plugged in.
What is the difference between AC and wall plug adapters?
Different ratings often employ physically different connector contacts such that mismatched plug and socket combinations cannot be engaged. For desktop adapters, the ac connection is a cord, whereas a wall plug adapter will have an integrated plug.
What are AC power plugs and sockets?
AC power plugs and sockets connect electric equipment to the alternating current (AC) mains electricity power supply in buildings and at other sites. Electrical plugs and sockets differ from one another in voltage and current rating, shape, size, and connector type. Different standard systems of plugs and sockets are used around the world.
How do through-the-wall air conditioners work?
How Do Wall Air Conditioners Work? Like all modern air conditioners, through-the-wall units work by blowing air over coils containing coolant gas, while expelling warm air outside. Through-the-wall units are typically rectangular, fitting in a precisely framed hole in an exterior wall, within a specially made containment sleeve.
What power cord plug do I need for my room air conditioner?
Room Air Conditioners have four different power cord plug styles depending on the model. The plug type or style will be either Parallel, Perpendicular, Tandem or Large Tandem.
Why is Wall outlet AC?
Home and office outlets are almost always AC. This is because generating and transporting AC across long distances is relatively easy. At high voltages (over 110kV), less energy is lost in electrical power transmission.
Does AC power mean plug in?
For desktop adapters, the ac connection is a cord, whereas a wall plug adapter will have an integrated plug. Many products with ac power cords have a standard ac inlet at the product chassis into which the power cord is connected.
What things use AC adapter?
Virtually everyone will have seen an adapter-style AC-DC power supply - commonly known as an “AC Adapter.” They get used for various applications such as laptop computers, computer monitors, televisions, and other household and commercial electronics.
What does AC mean in electricity?
Alternating CurrentSimilar term(s): AC & DC. Definition: Alternating Current (AC) is a type of electrical current, in which the direction of the flow of electrons switches back and forth at regular intervals or cycles. Current flowing in power lines and normal household electricity that comes from a wall outlet is alternating current.
What is the difference between AC and DC plug?
AC and DC are actually abbreviations for two different types of electrical current: alternating current and direct current. Alternating current is what most people think of when they think of the power flowing through their walls and what they plug into.
Why do you need an AC adapter?
An AC adapter is an external power supply that converts alternating current (AC) from a wall outlet to a direct current (DC) needed by an electronic device. Therefore, it is an AC/DC converter. When it supplies power to a battery-powered device, it is also accurate to describe it as a charger.
Where does the AC adapter plug into?
wall outletA power supply for electronic devices. Also called an "AC adapter" or "charger," power adapters plug into a wall outlet and convert AC to a single DC voltage. Computers use multiple DC voltages, and the power adapter is the external part of the power supply for a laptop.
What does an AC Adaptor look like?
0:416:47How to correctly pick an AC/DC power adapter. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust a tip you may also see AC represented with the single squiggly line and DC represented with aMoreJust a tip you may also see AC represented with the single squiggly line and DC represented with a straight line and a dotted one under it. Let's take a look at an AC to DC adapter.
Why are AC plugs rated?
Since wall plug voltages are standardized, the ac power connectors are similarly rated to provide sufficient insulation for the standard voltages. The maximum current rating for the connectors is also standardized.
What is AC connection?
For desktop adapters, the ac connection is a cord, whereas a wall plug adapter will have an integrated plug. Many products with ac power cords have a standard ac inlet at the product chassis into which the power cord is connected.
What is barrel connector?
Barrel connectors are perhaps the most common design for dc power connectors because they are inexpensive to manufacture due to loose mechanical tolerances and have no required orientation when plugging them together. You May Also Like: The Solar Explosion.
How many conductors are needed for AC plugs?
Ac wall plug selection is typically straightforward and comes down to two criteria: In what regions and/or countries is the power supply intended to be used, and does the application require two conductors or three conductors. Most countries have well-defined plug and socket combinations, voltages, and frequencies.
What is the IEC plug?
The International Electrotechnical Commission ( IEC) publishes a guide that generally categorizes plugs with letter designations. While this guide does a good job of generically grouping plug types, it does not account for all the possible nuances and variations.
How many conductors are in a single phase AC?
The three conductors consist of two power-carrying conductors and a third Protective Earth (PE), Frame Ground (FG), or safety ground conductor. Power delivery is accomplished with the two power-carrying conductors, and the ground conductor is present for increased safety from dangerous voltages.
Do AC connectors have to be specified?
In addition to the electrical characteristics of the input and output voltages and currents of power supplies, connectors also must be specified for the supplies. Ac input connectors are reasonably well standardized and thus limited in selection for the intended power levels and international markets. In contrast, dc output connectors are not as ...
Where is the power cord on an air conditioner?
Window units: The power cord is located below the control panel coming out at the base of the air conditioner. In many cases, the cord will be packed behind the grill when shipped so it may appear there is no cord with the unit.
Do GE air conditioners have power cords?
With the exception of some Zonelines, GE Appliances room air conditioners are factory equipped with power cords. The plug type and sizes vary depending on the application and BTU of the unit.
Can I use an extension cord on an air conditioner?
Newer air conditioner power cords may include a current interrupter device, which has a Test and Reset button on the plug case.Do not use an extension cord or plug the unit into a surge protector or multi-outlet adapter.
Want to cool your home in an efficient and cost effective way? Through-the-wall air conditioners can be a good choice to keep you and your home cool
Want to cool your home in an efficient and cost effective way? Through-the-wall air conditioners can be a good choice to keep you and your home cool.
What Is a Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner?
Through-the-wall air conditioners are self-contained cooling appliances installed permanently in a building’s exterior wall. Designed to span from the inside wall surface to the outside, these units maximize efficiency by creating an airtight seal when properly installed.
How Do Wall Air Conditioners Work?
Like all modern air conditioners, through-the-wall units work by blowing air over coils containing coolant gas, while expelling warm air outside. Through-the-wall units are typically rectangular, fitting in a precisely framed hole in an exterior wall, within a specially made containment sleeve.
Types of Wall Air Conditioners
When shopping for through-the-wall air conditioners, keep these key differences in mind as you make your choice:
How To Choose a Wall Air Conditioner
With more options than ever before, choosing the best wall air conditioner might seem daunting. It doesn’t have to be. Here are the main things to keep in mind:
Wall Air Conditioner Installation and Maintenance
Most through-the-wall air conditioners are simple to install. If you’re a capable DIYer with the tools and guts to cut a large hole in your wall, frame a precisely sized opening, then fix the drywall on the inside and siding on the outside, there’s probably no need to hire a professional.
How does AC power work?
Your home uses AC power to run every electrical item in your home or building. The main circuit in your home is supplied by electric ity from outside the home. The transformers in your neighborhoods transform power voltages into 120V of power required for your house. As explained in a previous post, when you multiply Voltage by Current it produces ...
What is AC wire?
AC Wiring Basics. AC stands for Alternating Current. AC is the type of electricity used for homes and other buildings. A basic understanding of AC power is essential if you are a homeowner, want or need to change out any basic electrical in your home or want to know how the power in your home works. It is essential you don’t work on anything ...
What is the neutral wire in an electrical circuit?
Always proceed with caution. The neutral wire is the white wire. This wire returns the current to your electrical circuit. The bare wire, green or green with yellow tape wires are the grounding wires. Green grounding wires should always connect to only other green grounding wires.
Why are ground wires color coded?
The ground wire is there to remove any extra power, and sends a signal back to the breaker, stopping the main power source. In the United States, AC Wires are color coded for safety. In the case of a 110V home electrical circuit, the colors indicate the function of each wire.
What is the neutral wire for an air conditioner?
Outlet Wiring for Air Conditioner Circuits. In a 2-wire cable for a 120-volt circuit, the "hot" current is carried by the black wire, while the white wire is the neutral. However, in a 240/250-volt circuit, there is no traditional neutral, since both wires are each carrying 120-volts of "hot" current.
What volts are used for electric appliances?
While most small plug-in appliances and electrical fixtures in your home operate on 120-volt circuits and are plugged into ordinary outlet receptacles, larger appliances—including electric stoves, electric dryers, electric water heaters, and larger air conditioners—are powered by 240/250-volt circuits. Sometimes these larger appliances are ...
What is the difference between a 20 amp and 30 amp receptacle?
The outlet receptacle used must match the amperage rating of the circuit and the air conditioner— a 20-amp receptacle has a different configuration than a 30-amp receptacle. The circuit ground wire should connect to the outlet and, if the electrical box is metal, also to the box. Read More.
Overview
AC power plugs and sockets connect electric equipment to the alternating current (AC) mains electricity power supply in buildings and at other sites. Electrical plugs and sockets differ from one another in voltage and current rating, shape, size, and connector type. Different standard systems of plugs and sockets are used around the world.
Plugs and sockets for portable appliances became available in the 1880s, to replace connection…
Concepts and terminology
A plug is the movable connector attached to an electrically operated device, and the socket is fixed on equipment or a building structure and connected to an energised electrical circuit. The plug is a male connector, often with protruding pins that match the openings and female contacts in a socket. Some plugs have female contacts that are used only for an earth ground connection. Some plugs have built-in fuses for safety.
History
When commercial electric power was first introduced in the 1880s, it was used primarily for lighting. Other portable appliances (such as vacuum cleaners, electric fans, smoothing irons, and curling-tong heaters) were connected to light-bulb sockets.
As early as 1885 a two-pin plug and wall socket format was available on the British market. By about 1910 the first three-pin earthed (grounded) plugs appeared. Over time other safety improv…
Application issues
Designs of plugs and sockets have gradually developed to reduce the risk of electric shock and fire. Plugs are shaped to prevent finger contact with live parts. Sockets may be recessed and plugs designed to fit closely within the recess to reduce risk of a user's fingers contacting the live pins. Contact pins may be sheathed with insulation over part of their length, so as to reduce exposure of energized metal during insertion or removal of the socket. Sockets may have autom…
Types in present use
The plugs and sockets used in a given area are regulated by local governments.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) maintains a guide with letter designations for generally compatible types of plugs, which expands on earlier guides published by the United States Department of Commerce. This is a de facto naming standard and guide to travellers. Some letter types correspond to several current ratings or different technical standards, so the l…
Adaptors
Adapters between standards are not included in the standards, and as a result they have no formal quality criteria defined. Physical compatibility does not ensure that the appliance and socket match in frequency or voltage. Adaptors allow travellers to connect devices to foreign sockets, but do not change voltage or frequency. A voltage converter is required for electrical compatibility in places with a different voltage than the device is designed for. Mismatch in frequency betwee…
Unusual types
A lampholder plug fits into a light socket in place of a light bulb to connect appliances to lighting circuits. Where a lower rate was applied to electric power used for lighting circuits, lampholder plugs enabled the consumers to reduce their electricity costs. Lampholder plugs are rarely fused. Edison screw lampholder adaptors (for NEMA 1-15 plugs) are still commonly used in the Americas.
Single phase electric stove plugs and sockets
The plugs and sockets used to power electric stoves from a single-phase line have to be rated for greater current values than those used with three-phase supply because all the power has to be transferred through two contacts, not three. If not hardwired to the supply, electric stoves may be connected to the mains with an appropriate high power connector. Some countries do not have wiring regulations for single-phase electric stoves. In Russia, an electric stove can often be see…