Nikola Tesla...
This week, I've gone back to watching YouTube videos about the life of Nikola Tesla and the common thread is he gave too much of his talents away... so much that it drained him. He died at the age of 81 after being hit by a taxi. Many years Tesla had been living alone in hotels leaving behind unpaid bills.As a young man coming to America, Tesla had worked for Thomas Edison. This was a double edged sword as Edison had cheated him of money and inventions. However, Tesla had the chance to grow and expand his experiments in the laboratory environment.
Edison's idea was to power homes by direct current (DC) generators. The problem with direct current was the limitation of traveling long distances. Thick wires and power stations every few miles were needed to conduct this type of electricity.
Tesla didn't agree with Edison and had invented motors and generators that worked with alternating current (AC) so he could run much longer distances with thinner wires.
His use of alternating current was less expensive and was gaining in popularity. He partnered with George Westinghouse to provide AC power distribution.
This was affecting Edison's business to the point where Edison started a smear campaign of fear mongering the dangers of alternating current. In retaliation, he began to use alternating current and horrified spectators when he publicly executed animals.
Anyway, I find it ironic that the most famous electric car in America named Tesla, is powered by batteries that supply (DC) direct current.
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However, "They are developing the world's first standalone alternating current (AC) battery using a so called 'biode', which has both the characteristics of an anode and a cathode. The AC battery is more efficient, safer and about 30 per cent more compact than regular batteries, which use direct current (DC)"
The reason why Tesla was right in promoting AC is that in those days, there were no power electronics. Back then, the only way you could step-up the voltage output of a generator (~400V) to one which is suitable for transmission over long distances (typ. 132kV) was to use a transformer and that works only for AC.
Credit to Tesla for being an Engineer. Credit to Edison for being a scientist. Hats off to both.
The reason why Tesla was right in promoting AC is that in those days, there were no power electronics. Back then, the only way you could step-up the voltage output of a generator (~400V) to one which is suitable for transmission over long distances (typ. 132kV) was to use a transformer and that works only for AC.
Credit to Tesla for being an Engineer. Credit to Edison for being a scientist. Hats off to both.
DC wins when you require high amperage and low voltage.
Wasn't Tesla's generators originally high voltage?
Transmissions over great distances were possible (Niagara Falls power stations) and the voltage was stepped down when it arrived near the intended source.
DC wins when you require high amperage and low voltage.
Wasn't Tesla's generators originally high voltage?
Transmissions over great distances were possible (Niagara Falls power stations) and the voltage was stepped down when it arrived near the intended source.