Abstract: Electrical circuits, apparatus and methods for a variety of applications. A switching device subdivides an alternating current input signal into a plurality of lower voltage pulses by switching on and off in response to the characteristics, such as the voltage and current, of the input signal, and the pulses of current are intermittently passed to a capacitor in series with the device as the voltage on the input signal is positive-going. When the voltage becomes negative-going, the capacitor is discharged, usually with the pulses passing through the switch in the opposite direction. Work is done by energizing the series capacitor, or by energizing a capacitor in parallel with the switch, or by energizing an inductor in parallel or series relation to the switch, or a combination of the above. The inductor may be the primary winding of a transformer, or may create an electrical or magnetic field which is transduced into mechanical motion. The load may also be a resistive load.