[Milsurplus] DC vs AC for power distribution

[Francesco Ledda]

Isn't inspired tinkering engineering? Leonardo Da Vinci was not a
mathematician, but he had a profound understanding of how things worked;
through his knowledge and his thinking, he was able to figure out new
things.  IMO, Leonardo was an engineer.

Engineering is more than math; math is a tool. Changing a resistor until
things work is not engineering, and being able to do math is not
engineering, either.

F 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of J. Forster
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:01 PM
To: mstangelo at comcast.net
Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] DC vs AC for power distribution

In my view, real engineering is based on understanding the fundamentals of
physics and applying them. There is a difference between engineering and
'cut and try' tinkering.

On that basis Edison was not an engineer, but rather an inventor. Perhaps
his most well known effort, the lightbulb, was a result of 'cut and try'.

This proves you can do a lot with the tinkering.

For example, I am unconvinced that Marconi knew enough about circuit theory
to actually design a radio. As with others, IMO he was an inspired tinkerer.

As was Tesla.

IMO, Steinmetz was a real engineer by these definitions.

(Flame shields up) ...  and many (most) of the 'conversions' done to vintage
mil gear are the result of tinkering without real engineering understanding.
An example is the modification of countless thousands of
ARC-5 and other Transmitters.

YMMV,

-John

=================



> John,
>
> I agree with you on the genius of Steinmetz but he work for GE, not 
> Westinghouse.
>
> He left Germany and worked for a small firm in Yonkers, NY. GE offered 
> him a job but he didn't leave this firm out of loyalty so GE purchased 
> the firm.
>
> Steinmetz became the Chief of Engineering at GE.
>
> Even though he was an academic he believed children should have time 
> to take a break and play and was responsible of the lunch time recess. 
> This was first instituted in the Schnectady school district, of which 
> he was a member.
>
> I did a report on him in high school, many moons ago.
>
> Mike N2MS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: J. Forster <jfor at quikus.com>
> To: Paul Kraemer <elespe at lisco.com>
> Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Tue, 01 May 2012 16:13:21 -0000 (UTC)
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] DC vs AC for power distribution
>
> 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
>
>
>
>


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