Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A power supply is an electronic device that supplies electric energy to an electrical load.
Related terms
Load: This is an electrical component or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power. It's like the student in our analogy.
Direct Current (DC): This is one type of electrical current which flows consistently in one direction. A DC power supply provides this kind of current.
Alternating Current (AC): This is another type of electrical current where the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction. An AC power supply provides this kind of current.