On The Need for Home DC Outlets

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Basics

  • This page explores the need for, and benefits from the adoption of, a home DC power outlet system

AC/DC (But not the Band)

  • AC Current is Good For Distribution, as it is more easily convertable since transformers can be used
  • AC Current can not be used with LEDs or Semiconductors However without conversion

Conversion Inneficciencies

  • Due to the rise in Home and Mobile Computing as well as LED Lighting and Screens/Backlights for Screens/Projectors, and DC Motors, DC Power is being used more and more
  • This means the standard AC power is being turned into DC power AT THE SOCKET, usually with highly inneficient socket rectifiers for devices such as USB ELectronic Device Chargers
  • Another inefficiency arises from how our power is being generated; AC Motors are used for Steam Turbines, yet Some Renewable Sources such as Some Wind Turbines, Photovoltaic Panels, and Fuel Cells all Produce DC Power, thus requiring an inverter to be used with the existing grid adding further to inefficiecies.

Calculation of Energy Lossses Due to the Lack of a DC Outlet

Losses From Generation

  • Average Inverter Efficiency is ~90% although there is a Larger Loss due at lower percentages of output power (see the chart below)

Losses From Conversion

  • Rectifiers are anywwhere from a measly ~40.6% with Half Wave Rectifiers to ~81.2% with Bridge Rectifiers
  • Linear AC to DC Converters can also consume power when Plugged in, yet not in use, SMPCs fix this issue, yet are more complex and bulkier
  • This Link Goes over an intresting home experiment to test this. Turn all of your electric tevices off, BUT DO NOT UNPLUG THEM, meeasure power draw, then do the same with them all unplugged. That gives you the draw from the converters in a resting state. Results vary, but the author had a passive draw detailed in the following quote:

"I was reading about 1.8 amps. We have 220V power where I live (Turkey) so that’s about 400 watts. I have a small house (about 1,600 square feet), so that seemed like a lot."

See the following sources for more detailed information on inverter efficiency

Losses From Transmission

Esentially...

  • One Big Converter tends to be more efficient and practical than many smaller ones

Possible Standards

Internal Links

External Links

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