Yeah I started reading up on it more once I got thinking about it. Looks like AC was easier in the past, which is probably why we’re standardized on it for local grids
well, technically, the term transformer refers to any device that converts the wave-form from one form to another. so a rectangle -> triangle converter would be a transformer.
in most cases, though, it’s only used in the sense of “voltage converter”. and these exist for AC and DC
interesting piece of trivia: In 2003ish, there was a major power outage across the northwestern US and much of eastern Canada. One major issue was that the grid became desynchronized so resynchronizing was a major problem they had to solve to bring the grid back up. The province of Quebec uses high voltage DC lines (and also massive amounts of hydroelectric power, but that's a conversation for another day) so they didn't have that same problem and had returned their power to normal long before the rest of the region.
JacobCoffinWrites@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
Yeah I started reading up on it more once I got thinking about it. Looks like AC was easier in the past, which is probably why we’re standardized on it for local grids
yeah, AC won during the current wars in 1900, mostly because efficient transformers were only available for AC at the time.
nowadays DC is often used for high-power long-distance transport though.
wewbull@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
No such thing as a DC transformer. Transformers rely on generating a changing magnetic field and for that you need AC.
well, technically, the term transformer refers to any device that converts the wave-form from one form to another. so a rectangle -> triangle converter would be a transformer.in most cases, though, it’s only used in the sense of “voltage converter”. and these exist for AC and DCnvm
interesting piece of trivia: In 2003ish, there was a major power outage across the northwestern US and much of eastern Canada. One major issue was that the grid became desynchronized so resynchronizing was a major problem they had to solve to bring the grid back up. The province of Quebec uses high voltage DC lines (and also massive amounts of hydroelectric power, but that's a conversation for another day) so they didn't have that same problem and had returned their power to normal long before the rest of the region.