Reply To: Focus fusion and transportation

[Alex Pollard]

Rematog wrote: Several BIG reasons for AC power.

Transformers. They ONLY work for AC power. Very hard (therefore expensive) to raise or lower DC voltage. So if you have a, say 100,000 volt DC transmission line, how do you get it down to a usable household voltage.

Solid-state semiconductor DC transformers are now available, correct? Also, why would there be 100,000 volt DC transmission lines if DC power users have local decentralised FF reactors?

Rematog wrote:

Motors. AC motors have no brushes to wear out. AC is much more convenient for making things turn, like say a refrigerator’s compressor, or the air conditioner’s compressor.

Please correct me if I my knowledge is lacking: Yes, AC is easier but control circuits can commutate a motor using DC input. The electronics is more complicated but the result is can be more efficient and less electrically noisy during startup?

Due to there being few household devices with electric motors vs devices that transform to DC 24/7, I think using a local DC supply could make more sense.

Rematog wrote:

Lighting. While conventional light bulbs will work fine on DC, fluorescent bulbs use ballasts to make the voltage they need to run. Guess you could use LED based lights, but those are not yet commercial.

LED will be commercial in due course.

Rematog wrote:

And the Biggest reason… Trillions of dollars in both utility infrastructure and industrial, commercial and residential equipment designed for good old 60 hz.

Rematog

I can’t argue with that. New standards generally have to be an order of magnitude better than what they replace to take hold: LPs vs CDs, Video tapes vs DVDs, etc…

Would DC be that much better than AC from a user’s point of view, that is the question…..