If I were to take a standard AC to DC converter, say a laptop charger, and hook up the input side (which expects 120VAC at 60Hz) to a DC power supply of some sorts, will the electricity still be “converted,” or will it just not work at all? I am clearly very uneducated when it comes to electronics (albeit working on it) so I would very much an ELI5 answer Thanks!

  • @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    52 years ago

    “DC or direct current is instead just a constant horizontal line.”

    Your explanation is totally correct. (I replied as well just to break it down a little further for OP). I know I’m being a little pedantic, but DC does not have to be constant. DC can also pulse and change. The main difference is whether or not the signal remains positive. If it goes negative, then it is AC. The change in polarity is what matters, not how constant it is.