[Hallicrafters] Power Transformer Rewinding Service

[George T. Baker]

Just one problem, Ed.

Don't blame it on Edison! His distribution system was all DC from
generator to load. No AC anywhere! In fact, Edison argued to his dying
day that AC could not work and was a fiction - sound familiar? His
clashes with those developing and installing AC networks are classics.

His choice of 100 volts was more likely based on what it was economical
to generate and how much loss he was likely to encounter getting service
to a given location.

Remember that he had no way to compensate for load changes, line drops,
etc. other than to have a number of generating stations scattered around
and to vary the voltage output of each in an effort to keep the loads
running properly.

Serving only a network of fixed street lights was the easy part - his
downfall came with residential and industrial applications with varying
loads for which his DC system just couldn't cope.

As I recall from reading - honest, I wasn't there! - he also had no way
to do grid-like power networking with DC like they can do with AC
systems.

Interesting stuff.

72/73, George
Fairview, TX   30 mi NE Dallas in Collin county
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 54th year and it just keeps getting better!
R/C since 1964 - AMA 98452   RVing since 1972


Ed Richards wrote:
>
> Good morning;
> I have addressed this subject before, but it looks like I need to do it
> again. My understanding is that old Thomas Alva picked 100 volts (a nice
> round figure) for his distribution voltage when installing the first
> street lights. It soon became apparent that this was too low as it
> required large, heavy, expensive wire, transformers, motors, etc. Since
> then the industry has been gradually increasing the voltage so as to
> reduce the cost, size and weight of these components. When I was a kid
> (1930's) the official voltage was 110 VAC. Since then I have seen it go
> to 113, 115, 117, 120 and now 122 VAC. The Europeans were smart enough to
> use 220 VAC from the beginning.
>
> I keep harping on the fact that I believe that running old radios
> designed for lower voltage on todays higher voltage is responsible, in
> part, for all the transformer failures. A simple solution is to use a
> filament transformer with a secondary equal to the voltage difference you
> want. Wire the primary across the line normally and the secondary in
> series with the line to the radio. Be sure to check it both ways first as
> one way will add to the line voltage and the other subtract from it. The
> secondary should be rated equal or better than the primary current the
> radio draws. Fair Radio Sales has a number of filament transformers at
> reasonable prices.
> 73,
> Ed Richards
>
>  —why did power companies raise the line voltage like that?)

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