Originally posted by suityou01
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Originally posted by VectraMan
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[QUOTE]I have always been told that DC is more dangerous. DC does not have the spark arresting property that AC does (reversing direction 60 times a second). DC switches and breakers are more difficult to design.
The selection of 60 Hz and 50 Hz was probably somewhat arbitrary selected. It is just a function of what rpm the generator is spun at and the number of poles. If I remember correctly, AC power for many intracity rail lines was (is) at 16 2/3 Hz.
The electric chair was a marketing ploy by Edison to create the illusion that AC was the "death" current. DC current would also work for an electric chair, it would just be more dangerous for the executioner.
Edison's vision was for there to be numerous distributed DC power stations (as DC does not travel well over distance). With Tesla's inventions, Westinghouse demonstrated that AC power was financially superior and permitted large central generating plants (and annoying high tension power lines everywhere). The 1892 Columbia Exposition in Chicago was electrified by Westinghouse AC power at half the price Edison offered to do it with DC. It was a pivotal point in the ascendency of AC power over DC power.
I did some work in New York City in the 1990's, and some of the older buildings still had DC systems with rectifiers to convert the incoming AC power. A carry-over from when Edison electrified the city with DC power. Rather than rewire the buildings and replace all the lighting and motors in one fell swoop, they maintained the existing systems and rectified the incoming power. The buildings I was in had curious mixes of mostly AC power with some DC power.[/QUOTE]
Originally posted by NickFitz
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Originally posted by Pondlife
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Edison's only original "invention" was the electic chair.
Thomas Alva Edison Unmasked At Last!!
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