12vdc vs. 12vac

Hello,

I just want to ask if what is the difference between 12VDC and 12VAC.

I see that VDC is just constant direction and VAC is reversing overtime.

Now, which is powerful 12VDC or 12VAC? If I touch for example the 12VAC terminals/wires or so, will I get shock?Or just like the feeling of touching 12VDC?

Lightfire

It's like the difference between 120VAC and 12VDC, except you only have 12VAC.
neither is super-dangerous, but both can hurt you, so don't go touching them, especially if they are at high current.
Where are you getting 12VAC from? a 10-1 transformer?

magnet18 said:

It's like the difference between 120VAC and 12VDC, except you only have 12VAC.
neither is super-dangerous, but both can hurt you, so don't go touching them, especially if they are at high current.
Where are you getting 12VAC from? a 10-1 transformer?

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No, I touch the terminals of my 12VDC/12AH battery and nothing happen. It's not hurty.

Anyway, I am planning to build an inverter which will be like this.
12VDC/12AH(battery) to 12VAC/12AH (if possible)

can you give me a schematic????

Now, which is powerful 12VDC or 12VAC?

Click to expand...

If the AC value is given in RMS then both are equal in power.

If I touch for example the 12VAC terminals/wires or so, will I get shock?Or just like the feeling of touching 12VDC?

Click to expand...

if the AC value is in RMS then the peak value will be higher i.e.. 12 / 0.707 = 16.973 or 17 volts peak,normally your body will not get shock in that range.

You can look at the AC lessons of AAC's ebook for more details on the difference between DC ,AC and RMS value of AC.
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/index.html

Good Luck

lol, you can touch the terminals of a 12volt battery very safely, just make sure you don't have a cut or wound you're touching any kind of battery with, even a 9volt battery can kill you if you penetrate the skin

under your skin there's a lot lower resistance and enough current to kill you....

As far as I know, the difference between AC and DC currents is that in AC the currents are easier and less expensive to transfer over distance. So there isn't much danger as long as voltage and current stay the same nor is one more powerful.