Does current that comes out of AC outlet change?

Question

Say i plug in my laptop to an AC outlet. It will constantly provide 120V. But does the amount of current that flows from the AC outlet to my laptop ever change?

Answer 1

I would think not....................unless you have the circuit overloaded, and if you do ........it will tell you, by kicking out.

Answer 2

A lot of different answers, and they are all mostly correct.

One problem is the dual use of the word "current". It can mean voltage, as in "AC, alternating current" or actual current in amps.

The voltage at the outlet can change from noise, power company lowering the voltage slightly, and induction from lightning. But mostly it stays the same. Although it is AC and alternates 60 times per second.

The power converter that you plug into the outlet changes the 120 volts AC to a low voltage, perhaps 9 volts, of DC.

This DC voltage is sent to the laptop, where a circuit determines the amount of charge on the battery and adjusts the current flow to the battery to reach or maintain that charge.

Answer 3

Yes, it changes to DC current and charges up your battery.

The big part of the power cord is actually a transformer.

The other 2 posters are in complete error.

Answer 4

It can. The flow of current is subject to fluctuations from power failures and surges and  power company "brown-outs". If you keep electronic equipemnet plugged in, use a surge protector.

Answer 5

Current most certainly can change .  For instance, when a thunder storm is raging outside,and you see a lightning flash... then the lights brighten  before they go out.   That brightening is current induction by the lightning which increases the in-line current until it trips  the circuit breakers.

Answer 6

Yes,

The current depends on the load, amount of power needed.

When the battery is being charged it uses more power from the AC outlet than when the battery is fully charged.

Answer 7

The voltage and current flowing out of an AC outlet change constantly. The voltage of an AC outlet can vary 120V +/- 10V. The adaptor on your laptop power cord converts this to a constant DC voltage to be supplied to your laptop. Depending on the operating state of your laptop the current drawn can vary. For example, it will draw more current when the microprocessor is working close to 100% and cooling fan is on than when the laptop is on standby.

Answer 8

In actuallity, the very nature of AC (alternatinc current) dictates that current and voltage WILL NOT stay the same.

At 60 cycles per second the voltage and current are fluctating between a "positive" extreme and a "negative" extreme.

However, I beleive you are asking if the average amount of current to your laptop is changing. Everyone in the previous post are correct. It will fluctate as conditions from the power company change, as well as the demand of your laptop.