Appliance Repair

Appliance AC vs DC Circuits

Name: Appliance AC vs DC Circuits
Uploaded: 2026-05-28T13:15:41Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: What’s the difference between AC and DC voltage in appliances? In this training video, we break down how AC power operates high-voltage loads like pumps and heating elements, while DC voltage powers control boards, sensors, and electronics. Learn how to read schematics, understand voltage paths, and troubleshoot appliance circuits safely and confidently.

What’s the difference between AC and DC voltage in appliances? In this training video, we break down how AC power operates high-voltage loads like pumps and heating elements, while DC voltage powers control boards, sensors, and electronics. Learn how to read schematics, understand voltage paths, and troubleshoot appliance circuits safely and confidently.

Diagnostic

Appliances

Electrical

Juan Morales

How did you like this video?

Very Good

Good

Not Good

Transcript

Before we do that, baby steps, let's talk about the differences between AC circuits and DC circuits. All right. So for that, we have a nice slide over here that talks about that. And, uh, I guess the first thing I'll say is that. AC stands for alternating current, and this is typically the, the 120 volts that comes from your wall outlet, right?

So if you look at the schematic diagram on the di diagram itself, you are gonna have the symbol for the, the plug that goes into your wall. That brings in the ac. And as you can see right there, we have line neutral and ground. Now this voltage is utilized to power things like your pumps, solenoids. So a perfect example would be like your water valves, right?

Your water valves are an AC driven load, and uh, obviously your heating element, things like that. So that's, um, that's where AC would be utilized. Now, AC is high voltage, very, you know. It's dangerous if you touch it. So again, with the schematic diagram, you will know exactly where to place your multimeter leads, where not to touch with your fingers because uh, you can, you can get whacked there.

Alright, and then the other thing we wanna talk about is DC right, which is direct current. Now DC is like a battery, right? It's uh, if you have a nine volt battery, that's. That's DC voltage. So DC voltage on these appliances is typically somewhere between three and 24 volts. And one of the things that, uh, you'll notice here is we're not gonna have any circuits on this appliance that go all the way to 24 volts.

I think the maximum we'll get to is 13 and a half. And it's very important that you realize that. This DC voltage is generated directly at the circuit boards. Okay. So there's not an external source here, like, like the AC comes from the outlet. All DC voltages come from circuit boards, so if you are missing a DC voltage, the board that is responsible for generating it is probably defective.