[Milsurplus] DC vs AC for power distribution

[John Vendely]

There is a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation on the 
subject of Nikola Tesla's contributions to AC power 
generation/distribution.  Neither Tesla nor George P. Steinmetz 
"invented" AC power.  The advantages of AC were recognized early on by 
many workers in the field, but it was Tesla who invented the first 
practical polyphase AC distribution system and the first practical AC 
generating system and AC induction motor (i.e, the dynamo), succeeding 
brilliantly where all his contemporaries failed.   The importance of 
these inventions cannot be overestimated, as the efficient generation, 
transmission, distribution and mechanical utilization of AC power would 
absolutely not have been possible without them.  They were the most 
important inventions in the electric power field.

Indeed, Tesla had already been awarded some 40 patents, nearly all in AC 
power generation, distribution, and motor design before Charles P. 
Steinmetz received his first patent.   I do not mean to diminish 
Steinmetz's brilliant accomplishments.  Steinmetz was one of the great 
innovators and inventors in the early electric power industry, and an 
important proponent of AC power.  Steinmetz was a genius, and developed 
much of the mathematics and circuit theory that made possible the 
complex power distribution networks we have today.  But it was Tesla who 
made the crucial, fundamental inventions in this field.

Sadly, Tesla's reputation was later tarnished by the many bizarre, 
usually apocryphal stories told about him.  This was due, in part, to 
his own outlandish claims for inventions that never materialized (eg., 
weather modification, "death" rays, etc.), and by his many personal 
eccentricities.  But Tesla's many contributions to the electric power 
industry are undisputed.

73,

John K9WT

]On 5/1/2012 12:13 PM, J. Forster wrote:
> Well, it depends on who is telling the story.
>
> Tesla was a 'mad' inventor. Not a real engineer. His real fucus was on
> radiated power. In recent years he has become something of a cult hero.
>
> The real brains behind AC was Charles Proteus Steinmetz, who worked for
> Westinghouse and did the fundamental engineering.
>
> -John
>
> ================
>
>> No, not exactly true.
>> For those who have never read it, the history of Nikolai Tesla is a
>> fascinating read
>> Tesla is credited as being the inventor of our AC power distribution
>> system
>> as we know it today, including 3 phase.
>> History claims Tesla drew this out in the sand one day on the beach
>> Tesla was a brilliant inventory but not a business man. Westinghouse saw
>> the
>> potential (no pun) of Tesla's inventions and provided the capital to make
>> it
>> happen.
>> Edison (General Electric), already well invested in dc power distribution,
>> attempted to dis-credit the AC power by references to the "deadly ac
>> power"
>> used in the electric chair executions in New York.
>> Although AC power grew became all it is to us today, Tesla died alone and
>> poor.
>> Fascinating stuff
>> Paul K0UYA
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "J. Forster"<jfor at quikus.com>
>> To:<whitaker at ieee.org>
>> Cc:<milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:18 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] DC vs AC for power distribution
>>
>>
>>