Pulsed DC

Pulsed DC (PDC) or pulsating direct current is a periodic current which changes in value but never changes direction. Some authors use the term pulsed DC to describe a signal consisting of one or more rectangular ("flat-topped"), rather than sinusoidal, pulses.
Pulsed DC is commonly produced from AC (<a href="/facts/Alternating_current/qxICS3xa">alternating current</a>) by a <a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">half-wave rectifier</a> or a <a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">full-wave rectifier</a>. Full wave rectified ac is more commonly known as Rectified AC. PDC has some characteristics of both <a href="/facts/Alternating_current/qxICS3xa">alternating current</a> (AC) and <a href="/facts/Direct_current/r9MNUx84">direct current</a> (DC) waveforms. The <a href="/facts/Voltage/EN2po6N2">voltage</a> of a DC wave is roughly constant, whereas the voltage of an AC waveform continually varies between positive and negative values. Like an AC wave, the voltage of a PDC wave continually varies, but like a DC wave, the sign of the voltage is constant.
Pulsating direct current is used on PWM controllers.

Pulsed DC open-in-new

Pulsed DC