4 ms·

Isn't that a function of voltage and not modulation? There might be a cost argument, I'm not sure if solid state step-down DC-DC converters are cheaper than goo

• Filligree 8y ago
  It's a function of both. At equivalent voltage, DC has much lower loss than AC.
• tlb 8y ago
  Yes, it's entirely a function of voltage. But the safe limit for DC voltage is lower for two reasons: - A shock from a DC supply will cause heart fibrillations at lower voltage than AC, because of the way muscles receive signals from nerves - An electrical arc from a DC line will burn continuously, while an AC arc tends to self-extinguish at each zero-crossing. So in practice, 120 VAC or 48 VDC are the limits for household wiring.
  • robocat 8y ago
    > So in practice, 120 VAC or 48 VDC are the limits for household wiring About 20% of the world uses 110-120 V and 60Hz. The rest uses mostly 240V at 50Hz. Although 110V is safer, the US seems to ignore many of the safety features I see used elsewhere in the world. How that translates to deaths per million people per year comparing to similarly rich countries, I don't know.
  • upofadown 8y ago
    >A shock from a DC supply will cause heart fibrillations at lower voltage than AC, because of the way muscles receive signals from nerves That is opposite to my understanding. The extra shock hazard of AC vs DC was an argument used against AC power distribution back in the day. The 50V limit is to prevent shock altogether.