Lord help us all in this hijacked thread! I will mention, but not explain, for us over 50 electrical folks, about the rhyme we were taught to remember the resistor color code. It is no longer politically correct.....
Ohm's law is simple. One amp of current will flow at one volt through one ohm of resistance. And, one watt of power, which is voltage multiplied by current.
How about the old AC vs DC example of ping pong balls thru a pipe? Fill the pipe with balls to represent the electrons in the wire. Stuff in another ball, one pops out the other end. Repeat. This is DC. All the electrons have to move the one way. Now, push in one extra ball until the one at the other end almost falls out, then push it backwards. Back and forth. This is AC.
Note, though that the stopping and starting of the electrons means a loss of power for AC given the same voltage and current. The factor is 70.7 percent, and is called RMS, which we sometimes see mentioned. Most often with audio power amplifiers, oddly enough.
Now, to re-track the thread somewhat.
Now, when we move electrons thru a wire, there is a magnetic field produced. Which is why there are field coils in generators and alternators. The regulator pushes more or less into the field coils as it sees the need for more or less output from the generator.
An AC field is better than a DC field when it comes to this, which is why alternators put out more amps from a smaller unit than a generator.
Stan
