Direct current

Direct current is the flow of electricity through a conductor such as a wire from high to low potential. Direct current was used briefly after the discovery of electric generation by Thomas Edison in the late nineteenth century, but abandoned in favor of alternating current.

It is now used in solar power systems. Direct current installations need different types of sockets, switches, and fixtures, mostly due to the very low voltages used from those used for alternating current. It is usually extremely important with a direct current appliance to not reverse polarity.