The Teardown Trail
Follow the Electricity
From a spinning magnet to the cold inside your fridge, in four teardowns.
Read in order
The trail
How a Portable Generator Makes Electricity
A portable generator is an engine spinning a magnet inside coils of wire. See how it makes AC, why inverter models are quieter, and how to run one safely.
How a Phone Charger Shrinks Wall Power
A phone charger doesn’t just step down the mains. It rectifies it, chops it thousands of times a second and rebuilds it as safe, low-voltage DC. Here’s how.
What’s Inside a Rice Cooker
A basic rice cooker has no timer. Water holds the pot at boiling point, then a magnetic switch lets go. Here’s what’s inside and how it knows rice is done.
How a Refrigerator Keeps Food Cold
A fridge doesn’t make cold. It pumps heat out of the box with a refrigerant loop. See the four steps, the parts inside and the right temperature to set.
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