History of 3-phase Electricity & Distribution
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Date: 2022-12-27
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Comments and reviews: 20
Felix
. Great video. My observation about technical terms: My opinion is industry terms such as Alternating Current (AC, and 3 Phase, cause much confusion for the common person, including policy makers and decision makers (without technical training or awareness. The term Alternating Current cause many people to think that electricity flows back and forth from the powerplant source to the home and vice versa. Many people also get confused when using terms such as 3 Phases instead of common terms such as 3 wires. Finally commonly used terms such as delivering power can be misleading. For me the term AC is really a rotating sine wave generating Potential Energy ready to be used elsewhere. Even when listening to the California Independent System Operator policy videos one hear policymakers talking about delivering power then run into difficulty when there is a transmission constraint at a physical point that is unable to handle the so called flow. I prefer thinking about Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy. The rotation of the turbine creates potential energy and potential electromotive force. When a wire is connected to the Potential Energy the electromotive force will indeed move from the high Potential Energy become Kinetic Energy and the difference creates the so called flow of electromotive force. Thus throughout history we had all this spinning rotating power plants creating Potential Energy and the electrical wire utility system connected to this Potential Energy to do work elsewhere. Fast forward to present one can see the challenges with Solar Power (which I luv) where there is now the potential energy of DCor direct current on single wires. And that DC needs to be utilized by a legacy 3 wire AC system. Thus the Solar units have 'inverters to invert (or convert)
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. Great video. My observation about technical terms: My opinion is industry terms such as Alternating Current (AC, and 3 Phase, cause much confusion for the common person, including policy makers and decision makers (without technical training or awareness. The term Alternating Current cause many people to think that electricity flows back and forth from the powerplant source to the home and vice versa. Many people also get confused when using terms such as 3 Phases instead of common terms such as 3 wires. Finally commonly used terms such as delivering power can be misleading. For me the term AC is really a rotating sine wave generating Potential Energy ready to be used elsewhere. Even when listening to the California Independent System Operator policy videos one hear policymakers talking about delivering power then run into difficulty when there is a transmission constraint at a physical point that is unable to handle the so called flow. I prefer thinking about Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy. The rotation of the turbine creates potential energy and potential electromotive force. When a wire is connected to the Potential Energy the electromotive force will indeed move from the high Potential Energy become Kinetic Energy and the difference creates the so called flow of electromotive force. Thus throughout history we had all this spinning rotating power plants creating Potential Energy and the electrical wire utility system connected to this Potential Energy to do work elsewhere. Fast forward to present one can see the challenges with Solar Power (which I luv) where there is now the potential energy of DCor direct current on single wires. And that DC needs to be utilized by a legacy 3 wire AC system. Thus the Solar units have 'inverters to invert (or convert)
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jody
Thomas Edison did not invent even half of the things he has credit for. He financed people with good ideas to develop the ideas and he took the credit. Edison thought that DC would be the way to go to build an electric right across the country. Thank goodness Nikola Tesla met George Westinghouse. George Westinghouse actually invented many many more things than Thomas Edison did like the airbrake for trains when he was very young. He invented the gas valve and pumped gas coming out of the ground at his house in point breeze just outside Pittsburgh into his house, and his next-door neighbor, that vicious businessman frick, Andrew Carnegie partner. Westinghouse also is responsible with Nichola tesla for having alternating current Electric grid. If we did not have alternating current, and we had DC instead, we would have to have a power generation source about every three square blocks
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Thomas Edison did not invent even half of the things he has credit for. He financed people with good ideas to develop the ideas and he took the credit. Edison thought that DC would be the way to go to build an electric right across the country. Thank goodness Nikola Tesla met George Westinghouse. George Westinghouse actually invented many many more things than Thomas Edison did like the airbrake for trains when he was very young. He invented the gas valve and pumped gas coming out of the ground at his house in point breeze just outside Pittsburgh into his house, and his next-door neighbor, that vicious businessman frick, Andrew Carnegie partner. Westinghouse also is responsible with Nichola tesla for having alternating current Electric grid. If we did not have alternating current, and we had DC instead, we would have to have a power generation source about every three square blocks
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Donn
I really liked your one woman show. No moss going to grow on your toes. The higher the frequency of the power the more the tendency of it to run over the outside of the conductor. With AC power you can use transformers to boost the voltage for transmission and overcome resistance losses. In DC transmission its not possible to use transformers so there is no way to overcome resistance losses. Oh darned eh! Between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland there are underwater DC high voltage cables. They do that because they can overcome losses due to resistance but they do that by rectifying the AC power to DC at the BC mainland end and then rectifying it back to DC where it lands on Vancouver Island, I believe at the Horsey sub station. Anyway, thanks for your explanation of the complication process of getting where we are at with electrical power.
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I really liked your one woman show. No moss going to grow on your toes. The higher the frequency of the power the more the tendency of it to run over the outside of the conductor. With AC power you can use transformers to boost the voltage for transmission and overcome resistance losses. In DC transmission its not possible to use transformers so there is no way to overcome resistance losses. Oh darned eh! Between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland there are underwater DC high voltage cables. They do that because they can overcome losses due to resistance but they do that by rectifying the AC power to DC at the BC mainland end and then rectifying it back to DC where it lands on Vancouver Island, I believe at the Horsey sub station. Anyway, thanks for your explanation of the complication process of getting where we are at with electrical power.
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Nikica
A correction. Tesla was not Serbian inventor. He was Serb born in Croatia which was part of Austro Hungarian empire. He was educated in Croatia (primary and high school, and later he studied in Graz an Prague. He tried to get scholarship from Serbian cultural organization Matica srpska in Austro Hungaria but he was denied allegedly because his mother was of Croatian catholic origin. In his life he was only once in Serbia for no longer than 24hours and that does not make him serbian scientist. He could be called Austro Hungarian / Croatian / America scientist/inventor but calling him Serbian inventor is totally wrong.
For example Steve Jobs was American innovator and businessman because he was born, educated, inovating and worked in US, and not Syrian inventor only because his father was Syrian.
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A correction. Tesla was not Serbian inventor. He was Serb born in Croatia which was part of Austro Hungarian empire. He was educated in Croatia (primary and high school, and later he studied in Graz an Prague. He tried to get scholarship from Serbian cultural organization Matica srpska in Austro Hungaria but he was denied allegedly because his mother was of Croatian catholic origin. In his life he was only once in Serbia for no longer than 24hours and that does not make him serbian scientist. He could be called Austro Hungarian / Croatian / America scientist/inventor but calling him Serbian inventor is totally wrong.
For example Steve Jobs was American innovator and businessman because he was born, educated, inovating and worked in US, and not Syrian inventor only because his father was Syrian.
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Thomas
I've worked in industry as a maintenance technician. I've wired a lot of 3 phase equipment.
Although this video helped, I still don't fully understand 3 phase. The person who trained me did explain a bunch, with a VOM, and how a single phase motor can run off of 2 legs of 3 phase. I also know well enough to just jog newly installed equipment to make sure it is rotating in the proper dorection. If not, just switching 2 of the 3 wires, it will ne corrected. I'm still baffled by it all, and proclaim myself a mechanic more than an electrician. Even 3 wire 220V in a home is a bit of a mystery. but I just installed 220V outlets for my welders. and everything works fine.
My home is in need of a pro electrician. When they show up, I will pick their brains.
Great video. and thanks.
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I've worked in industry as a maintenance technician. I've wired a lot of 3 phase equipment.
Although this video helped, I still don't fully understand 3 phase. The person who trained me did explain a bunch, with a VOM, and how a single phase motor can run off of 2 legs of 3 phase. I also know well enough to just jog newly installed equipment to make sure it is rotating in the proper dorection. If not, just switching 2 of the 3 wires, it will ne corrected. I'm still baffled by it all, and proclaim myself a mechanic more than an electrician. Even 3 wire 220V in a home is a bit of a mystery. but I just installed 220V outlets for my welders. and everything works fine.
My home is in need of a pro electrician. When they show up, I will pick their brains.
Great video. and thanks.
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Glenn
Kathy, you should have started with the fact that Tesla invented the 3 phase AC system, not Edison. And discussion about 2 phase AC is simply 2 legs of his 3 phase AC system or 208 volts. The Chicago Worlds Fair in 1890 was the first use of the 3 phase AC system which showed the whole world what a 3 phase system was. Generators located at Niagara Falls designed by Tesla were used to electrify the Worlds Fair. Edison wanted to establish a DC system which would have meant that generators would have to be located very close together and the electric lines would have had to be enormous. We can thank Tesla for our 3 phase 2o8 volt AC system which is now used all over the World! Glenn Norris PE
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Kathy, you should have started with the fact that Tesla invented the 3 phase AC system, not Edison. And discussion about 2 phase AC is simply 2 legs of his 3 phase AC system or 208 volts. The Chicago Worlds Fair in 1890 was the first use of the 3 phase AC system which showed the whole world what a 3 phase system was. Generators located at Niagara Falls designed by Tesla were used to electrify the Worlds Fair. Edison wanted to establish a DC system which would have meant that generators would have to be located very close together and the electric lines would have had to be enormous. We can thank Tesla for our 3 phase 2o8 volt AC system which is now used all over the World! Glenn Norris PE
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Roberto
As we move into a principally electrical future (electric transportation) this story provides the picture of how transitions from on era to another are filled with twists and turns. Who do you think are the Tesla and Steinmetz players of today and how will they play the carnival out? Stay informed about the new uses wave mechanics will be put to use. Squeezing the electromagnetic waves into denser packets (like the maser and laser) is in our future. This will be a feast for the curious and creative minds. It will require a magnitude of improvement in how we teach science clearly and intelligently so that everyone can trust in scientific results. May the Force be with us.
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As we move into a principally electrical future (electric transportation) this story provides the picture of how transitions from on era to another are filled with twists and turns. Who do you think are the Tesla and Steinmetz players of today and how will they play the carnival out? Stay informed about the new uses wave mechanics will be put to use. Squeezing the electromagnetic waves into denser packets (like the maser and laser) is in our future. This will be a feast for the curious and creative minds. It will require a magnitude of improvement in how we teach science clearly and intelligently so that everyone can trust in scientific results. May the Force be with us.
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Brad
Tesla dabbled in electric but he more dabbled in frequency and vibration cell phone and radio towers but not one person invited electricity or a lightning bolt just invited a way to harness its power in a way. Yet Tesla went on to mess with electricity with towers not wires such as hamm radio and cell phones not to mention radar which is wireless less or fiber optic lines which is based apon light or laser in all honesty. As far as electricity goes is an element of nature such as a lightning bolt a element of nature. As well as a copper coil to make ethanol or fuel in a way good way to cure a throat infection lol
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Tesla dabbled in electric but he more dabbled in frequency and vibration cell phone and radio towers but not one person invited electricity or a lightning bolt just invited a way to harness its power in a way. Yet Tesla went on to mess with electricity with towers not wires such as hamm radio and cell phones not to mention radar which is wireless less or fiber optic lines which is based apon light or laser in all honesty. As far as electricity goes is an element of nature such as a lightning bolt a element of nature. As well as a copper coil to make ethanol or fuel in a way good way to cure a throat infection lol
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Rob65
Are 2 phase motors still being used for high power application? I have never seen any. But then, I live in the Netherlands where we are lucky to have the 50 Hz 3-phase system. We do also have 2-phase motors but there the 2nd phase is just a helper winding to start the motor to turn, the motor itself is being run from a single phase with a capacitor to shift the phase to the 2nd winding. I've heard that in the U. S. devices are being used to let 3-phase motors run on a single phase, with a major power loss on the motor output though.
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Are 2 phase motors still being used for high power application? I have never seen any. But then, I live in the Netherlands where we are lucky to have the 50 Hz 3-phase system. We do also have 2-phase motors but there the 2nd phase is just a helper winding to start the motor to turn, the motor itself is being run from a single phase with a capacitor to shift the phase to the 2nd winding. I've heard that in the U. S. devices are being used to let 3-phase motors run on a single phase, with a major power loss on the motor output though.
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sidjoo
Tesla wrote: About a year ago I had a pleasure of bringing before American Inst. of Electrical Engineers the results of some of my work on alternative current motor. By one of the most curiuos coincidences, however, prof Ferraris. identical almost to the smallest detail(to the end.
This words not about he himself, Tesla, made something that previously made by Ferraris, but OPPOSITE - prof. Ferraris discovery in small detail resembles of what he, Tesla, showed to American Institute of El. Engineers a YEAR prior.
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Tesla wrote: About a year ago I had a pleasure of bringing before American Inst. of Electrical Engineers the results of some of my work on alternative current motor. By one of the most curiuos coincidences, however, prof Ferraris. identical almost to the smallest detail(to the end.
This words not about he himself, Tesla, made something that previously made by Ferraris, but OPPOSITE - prof. Ferraris discovery in small detail resembles of what he, Tesla, showed to American Institute of El. Engineers a YEAR prior.
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Luca
Ferraris was an accademic with not industrial background, he established the principle on which the induction motor is based, all the rest are just improvements of the original idea. Michael Dolivo-Dobrowolsky, the engineer who created the modern induction motor, said: I kissed Ferraris's hand from afar for the nice idea and decided to investigate the matter intensively and to build a small test motor as soon as possible. wondering why he didn't choose to kiss Tesla's hand
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Ferraris was an accademic with not industrial background, he established the principle on which the induction motor is based, all the rest are just improvements of the original idea. Michael Dolivo-Dobrowolsky, the engineer who created the modern induction motor, said: I kissed Ferraris's hand from afar for the nice idea and decided to investigate the matter intensively and to build a small test motor as soon as possible. wondering why he didn't choose to kiss Tesla's hand
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TheSulross
what is really a shame is how muddled all this history of electricity is per what is taught in public schools and universitities - and even the fan boyism of Tesla in the public at large tends to overhype aspects of the history too (and mixes in large dosoes of legend, mythology, and wu-wu speculation) in service of their icon
really would be great to see a definitive work that clears all this up and appropriates credit to where credit is due, etc
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what is really a shame is how muddled all this history of electricity is per what is taught in public schools and universitities - and even the fan boyism of Tesla in the public at large tends to overhype aspects of the history too (and mixes in large dosoes of legend, mythology, and wu-wu speculation) in service of their icon
really would be great to see a definitive work that clears all this up and appropriates credit to where credit is due, etc
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Bub
So in conclusion we had a handful of very smart men along with businessmen who were cheats and liars and a lot of money changed hands and in the end we ended up with 50 and 60 hert three phase systems. This goes to show you leave a bunch of middle-aged men with way too much money and they'll cheat their way to stardom. Where to get them written in a history book and they're all dead now
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So in conclusion we had a handful of very smart men along with businessmen who were cheats and liars and a lot of money changed hands and in the end we ended up with 50 and 60 hert three phase systems. This goes to show you leave a bunch of middle-aged men with way too much money and they'll cheat their way to stardom. Where to get them written in a history book and they're all dead now
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Ray
How does the current in each wire compare between the 3 wire and 6 wire transmission system? Is what would be return current in one wire pair in the 6 wire system balance into the other 2 phases in the 3 wire system? What is the maximum power transmission per combined cross sectional area of the 3 wire vs the 6 wire system? It the 3 wire system fully twice as efficient in wire need?
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How does the current in each wire compare between the 3 wire and 6 wire transmission system? Is what would be return current in one wire pair in the 6 wire system balance into the other 2 phases in the 3 wire system? What is the maximum power transmission per combined cross sectional area of the 3 wire vs the 6 wire system? It the 3 wire system fully twice as efficient in wire need?
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Kenneth
If you love the symmetry of using a waterfall to power a pump to make a waterfall at a distance, you should look at the modern California Water Project, which transmits power generated from dams in the Sierra Nevada along power lines paralleling the aqueduct that those dams feed, to pump the very same water over the Tehachepi mountains into Southern California.
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If you love the symmetry of using a waterfall to power a pump to make a waterfall at a distance, you should look at the modern California Water Project, which transmits power generated from dams in the Sierra Nevada along power lines paralleling the aqueduct that those dams feed, to pump the very same water over the Tehachepi mountains into Southern California.
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Stephen
This was excellent, thank you! Very informative. I love learning about the contributions by the Old Masters. I look forward to watcing the video about Charles Proteus Steinmetz. (just a tip: please consider getting a lav mike for your narration in your videos; it will reduce the background echo and improve audio quality. Thanks again and cheers!
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This was excellent, thank you! Very informative. I love learning about the contributions by the Old Masters. I look forward to watcing the video about Charles Proteus Steinmetz. (just a tip: please consider getting a lav mike for your narration in your videos; it will reduce the background echo and improve audio quality. Thanks again and cheers!
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Serge
Interesting, I was among those that though Tesla had invented both 3 phase AND 3pahse distribution, I did not know DD was the one that came up with Start-Delta transformers and transmission lines
Thank you for the video.
Oh and I'm more into green myself than purple though I admit a nice fuchsia can be pleasing as well
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Interesting, I was among those that though Tesla had invented both 3 phase AND 3pahse distribution, I did not know DD was the one that came up with Start-Delta transformers and transmission lines
Thank you for the video.
Oh and I'm more into green myself than purple though I admit a nice fuchsia can be pleasing as well
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David
information. 6: 10 this was one of the MANY instances where an idea patented by tesla was a failure.
throughout his career, tesla acquired a Stack of Worthless patents. if ANY of those ideas had been valid, tesla would not have died, a pauper. 16: 38 BLEHHH 'tesla the MYTH'!
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information. 6: 10 this was one of the MANY instances where an idea patented by tesla was a failure.
throughout his career, tesla acquired a Stack of Worthless patents. if ANY of those ideas had been valid, tesla would not have died, a pauper. 16: 38 BLEHHH 'tesla the MYTH'!
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Farm_fab
Good explanation, Kathy. Not criticism, but I would like to encourage you to exploit websites that speak names that are common. That way you don't offend people that have those names. This is just as important as the other research that you do.
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Good explanation, Kathy. Not criticism, but I would like to encourage you to exploit websites that speak names that are common. That way you don't offend people that have those names. This is just as important as the other research that you do.
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Farm_fab
The nice thing about 3 phase motors is that by changing any 2 wires, the motor can easily be reversed. Also it's fascinating that 3 phase inverters is that it's easy to produce it even from DC, as long as the current is adequate.
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The nice thing about 3 phase motors is that by changing any 2 wires, the motor can easily be reversed. Also it's fascinating that 3 phase inverters is that it's easy to produce it even from DC, as long as the current is adequate.
reply
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