retroelectro
travel long distances with minimal loss, a stark contrast to Edison’s direct current methods. The major issue when transmitting power over long distances is that the impedance of the transmission lines create a lot of loss. Using his alternating current power transformer, Stanley substantially increased the line's voltages and reduced them when it reached the end user, paving the way for power grids extending beyond city limits.
remained in the dark. Investor- Owned Utilities (IOUs) focused on cities where customers were plentiful, and profits were high. This left rural areas in a perpetual state of economic disparity as opportunities clustered around the cities and people left the farms. Rural isolation deepened, with limited access to technology, education, and communication, further widening the gap between rural and urban life. Rural areas were deemed by the accountants and bean counters to be unmanageable and unprofitable due to their low population density and the vast distances.
The long-distance power transformer Enter William Stanley Jr. (of Stanley Cup (not hockey) fame), who introduced the first practical power transformer in 1886 while working for George Westinghouse. This groundbreaking device allowed electrical currents to Sprague and the Richmond Union Passenger Railway.’ (https://emedia. digikey.com/ view/251481832/17/) During this time, Frank Sprague had recently left Edison, where he was instrumental in defining the mathematics needed to develop power grids. Learn more in the RetroElectro article ‘Frank J.
Barriers to progress
Life in rural America at the turn of the century was difficult. Farming relied on manual labor and animal power. Candles and kerosene lamps provided meager light at night. Homes lacked the conveniences that urban residents of the day took for granted, like hot running water, electric heat, broadcast radio, etc. Yet, many rural families resisted the idea of electrification. The risks were high, the costs seemed exorbitant, and the benefits could not be comprehended by those who had never experienced them. Adding to the challenge was the outright opposition from IOUs.
William Stanley Jr
With this new ‘power transformer,’ poles were planted, and wire was strung along railroad tracks and telegraph lines across the country, powering up small communities along the way. Despite this breakthrough, the countryside
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