Comments on: Why AC instead of DC and why 50/60 Hz?

By: Sunil

Sunil — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 09:44:09 +0000

Thanks for explaining diffrance between ac and dc

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By: Gene

Gene — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 06:04:22 +0000

Here in America in large plants that handle materials that change depending what mixture, concrete, asphalt, etc for what application, we use 3 phase motors 240, 480 vac. to control the speed we use variable frequency controls (VFD's) to change the 60 hertz frequency to what ever frequency to get the speed needed for the job. 35 years in electrical a/c and d/c I still find things that just amaze me. I can't imagine how Tesla and Edison did it back then. thank you for your article

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By: Luis

Luis — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:21:17 +0000

Mr. Musi,
In one phrase, "well put". Those of us who were associated with General Electric for a long time know that most of the industrial and up to the largest utility machines they've built to date are AC.

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By: Albert van Bemmelen

Albert van Bemmelen — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 21:36:16 +0000

In reply to albert van bemmelen.

Thanks for your much appreciated reply on my added little comments Gerald. I was merely pointing out why the brushless AC Turbines are chosen over the early DC generators then and now and why Tesla's AC system had won. Tesla won also because the AC Generators were mechanical much better and could generate more power more reliably than Edison's Generators could. Tesla was in the beginning when still working for Edison, send out many times to fix broken DC Generator Systems for Edison's company. Tesla said that he could redesign Edison's inefficient motor and generators, making an improvement in both service and economy. But Edison didn't come through on his promise of payment after months of work which Tesla fulfilled. So Tesla resigned. This is a historical fact but was somehow not mentioned. Which is also why the better AC generators are now over about 120 years used in Power Plants. And added to the longer distances that can be reached with AC lines.

AC is even better than DC today in automotive style Alternators. For the same amperage output, an Alternator is usually lighter in weight, more compact in size and doesn't need the old DC type anymore. An AC Alternator also gives its necessary Stationary Battery charging Output at much lower rPM's compared to the previous also much heavier DC Alternators. Which is also why Edison lost the DC 'War'. So I hope your students do not think that Edison made our future as we know it. I think he mainly tried to stop good progress.
Cheers!

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:38:53 +0000

In reply to Anwar Shiekh.

Thanks Anwar for your support and for sharing your experience. Yes 400 Hz is used in aviation for good reasons and I assume that they have different core transformers.

Cheers,
Gerald

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:32:53 +0000

In reply to beh.

Thanks for your support Beh

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:32:15 +0000

In reply to Humberto.

Thanks for your support Humberto

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:31:41 +0000

In reply to Matsuoka.

Thanks Matsuoka,yes it was a long time ago but I still remember the feeling 🙂

Cheers,
Gerald

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:29:41 +0000

In reply to Lee.

Thanks Lee

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By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:28:43 +0000

In reply to Robert Calk.

Thanks Robert, you are a wise man.

Cheers,
Gerald

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