nikola tesla developed the first alternating current electric system.
who developed the first alternating current electric system?
nikola tesla
the alternating current electric induction motor was independently introduced in 1888 by galileo ferraris and nikola tesla, by 1895 was beginning to allow electrical power to replace steam as a power source. the induction motor allowed alternating current to be used directly without any conversions. the first heavy ac motor users were various factories which typically replaced their steam power plants. alternating current electrical power and its easy conversion with transformers from low to high voltage and back to low voltage made possible the widespread electrical grids we routinely use today for a myriad of tasks.
folsom powerhouse state historic park
the need to power a stamp mill to process ore at the gold king mine up in the mountains near ophir, colorado drove major stock holder lucien l. nunn to seek a less expensive alternative to the wood powered steam mill at the site. timber fuel was in scarce supply at the mines 12,000 foot height and coal could not be used because there was no railroad leading to the mine. the san miguel river 3000 feet down the slope 3 miles from the mine looked to be a good power source but some of the methods of transmitting the power including water powered compressed air and belt drives did not seem feasible. lucien's brother paul, an electrical engineer, began looking into using electric motors to drive the plant. a 220 volt direct current electric system was found to be too expensive due to the size of the copper conductors needed to transmit such a low voltage the distances they were contemplating. a high voltage alternating current system looked more promising so they contacted pittsburgh, pennsylvania based westinghouse electric in 1890 and convinced them to supply an electricity driven system based on alternating current technology.
ames hydroelectric generating plant