Interestingly enough, DC actually transmits current better over long distances than AC. AC transmission lines are limited to around 800 kv (800,000 volts) due to voltage losses any higher than that reducing the efficiency. And they are limited to around 300 miles, due to resistive line losses that reduce efficiency. DC, on the other hand, can go over 1,000 kv (1 million volts) without the same efficiency losses and distance limitations. There are only a few primary DC power distribution lines in the US, the longest of which is a 1,000 kv DC line from northern Oregon to southern California.
But DC has its own problems. One primary problem is that power plant generators produce AC power making it is very easy to boost that AC power to higher voltages and reduce it to lower voltages as needed using basic transformers. But to convert the AC generator power to DC at the source and then convert it back to AC at the destination has traditionally been difficult, inefficient, and costly. New advances have improved that process and lowered the costs, but AC is firmly rooted in place.
The whole process is interesting. The above are but a few of the issues facing AC vs DC generation and transmission. But probably not a topic many would sit around the campfire discussing.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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