The history of AC and DC currents

Let's start answering this question with a little story about how electricity was discovered. How did we discover this invisible form of energy? Perhaps the most important discovery was made in the 1600s by a man named William Gilbert, who served as physician to Queen Elizabeth I of England. In experiments on the friction of amber and jet (black amber), William found that it attracted particles, and thus magnetism was discovered. 

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The Birth of Direct Current (DC):

• The story begins with the advent of direct current, first invented by Italian scientist Alessandro Volta in the late 18th century. In 1800, Volta built the first real battery known as the "Volta Battery" by stacking alternating layers of zinc and copper discs separated by impregnated cardboard. This invention marks the birth of direct current electricity, which creates a continuous flow of electrons in one direction.  

• Volta's work laid the groundwork for subsequent advances in electrical engineering, including pioneering experiments conducted by Michael Faraday. In the early 19th century, Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, a phenomenon important to electricity production. His experiments led to the development of the first generator to produce direct current electricity using mechanical energy.

The Rise of Alternating Current (AC):

• While DC was the dominant form of electricity in the early years, it had limitations, particularly in transmitting power over long distances. The turning point came with the work of Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla and his championing of alternating current. Tesla's innovative AC system, based on rotating magnetic fields, allowed for efficient power transmission over great distances. 

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• Tesla's AC system gained recognition through his collaboration with George Westinghouse, who saw the potential of AC power for widespread distribution. This led to the famous "War of Currents" in the late 19th century, a fierce rivalry between Tesla and Thomas Edison, a proponent of DC power. Ultimately, alternating current became widespread due to its ability to transmit electricity over greater distances and at higher voltages, which revolutionized the way electricity was generated and distributed.

The war between AC and DC: 

• Thomas Edison was a proponent of direct current (DC) electrical systems. He believed that direct current was safer and more reliable for distributing electricity over short distances. The Edison Company built many DC power plants and electrical systems, including New York's famous Pearl Street station. 

• On the other hand, Nikola Tesla advocated an alternating current (AC) electrical system. Tesla believed that alternating current had several advantages over direct current, especially that it could be easily converted to a variety of voltages, making it better suited for transmitting electricity over long distances. Tesla's AC system involved the use of transformers and was more efficient for transmitting electricity over large distances.  

• The "War of Currents" refers to the intense rivalry and competition between Edison's DC system and Tesla's AC system during the late 19th century. Edison actively campaigned against AC, claiming it was dangerous and even went so far as publicly electrocuting animals with AC to demonstrate its dangers. Tesla and his supporters argued that AC was more versatile and could be transmitted over longer distances with less energy loss. 

• Ultimately, the adoption of AC over DC became the standard for electrical distribution due to its efficiency in long-distance transmission. AC power could easily be converted to other voltages using transformers, allowing power to be transmitted over hundreds of miles, which was critical for powering cities and industries. 

In the end, Tesla's AC system won out due to its practical advantages, and AC power became the backbone of the modern power grid we use today. Indeed, there was rivalry and rivalry between Tesla and Edison, but it's important to note that the conflict was primarily about technology and business, not a literal "war" between the two.