Was Edison Right All Along? The Case for Direct Current

You’re likely familiar with the “war of the currents” that gripped America in the 1880's – when inventors Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse (with a teensy bit of help from some chap named Tesla) tussled over how best to harness electricity. Whilst the former favoured a system called “direct current” (DC), the latter championed “alternating current” (AC) and - **spoiler alert** - AC won.

But maybe Westinghouse’s AC didn’t win the war, after all – just the first battle.

As of 2022, almost a billion people worldwide still don’t have access to electricity, something the UN aims to fix by 2030. But at the same time, we’re living through a climate emergency caused by our reliance on non-renewable energy. So how can we expand power consumption AND limit its impact on the environment? As it turns out, DC could help with both…

Was Edison right all along? Find out in this explainer video from iluli by Mike Lamb – explaining the ideas and innovations changing our lives.

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0:00 Introduction: Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla
0:29 AC vs DC
1:15 The two systems explained
2:35 Time for a rethink?
4:05 Exporting solar energy
4:51 Conclusion

[jonjon]

electrons don't flow, once you run current through a wire it creates a magnetic field around the wire, that field is what transfers power from one end to another.

[naeemtahir]

A very interesting approach to centuries old rivalry.
Infact either ac or dc both have their relevance one way or the other. You can not write off anyone completely.

[beyondinsrilankatours]

Very informative channel and another great video. This channel sadly underrated..We are stand with you everyday... wish you all the best #ilulibymikelamb

[mevsimpossible]

Didn't know that they use adapters for that!
Thank you Mike, you'll always be an inspiration. ♥

[anshikbrahmbhatt]

Thank you for making such an exciting video!
Though I have a question, would it not contribute to climate disasters to manufacture products to make microgrids and high-voltage DC lines?

[TeeLichtet]

I learned something today, thanks Mike!

[kyleromero]

Saw you from an ad and fell in love ever since

[sarahahmed]

ارشد شریف اللہ ان کو جنت الفردوس میں جگہ دے آمین
میں نے سوچا آج اس ملک۔کو دیکھوں
جہاں ایک مرد مومن مرد مجاہد کو بے دردی سے مارا
😭

[mdshawkathossain]

Tani yes class nine a Ami science nea lekha pora koraci amar problem hoice black magic na hole Ami saudia jetam na

[daniellin]

Sound almost too promising to be true, any power system engineers here gonna start deconstructing this case down? Or this is inevitably gonna be the case in the next ten-or-so years?

EDIT: Better way to put it, I’d like to see some counter arguments.

Out of all the football rivalry out there, you choose Arsenal vs Spurs? lol

[facundoignaciodominguez]

Is there any evidence of Edison stealin this idea from his workers?

[fouler]

Very nice video alot to learn and alot to improvise in our world thanks iluli for the video

[shooshx]

It's the direction of the electric field, not the movement of electrons.

[mdshawkathossain]

Tani ami sonaci sromer kakar first mear jhamai ra nesa khor cilo ora problem cilo

[marioescalona]

No, Tesla won and will always be the winner. Granted DC transmission offer lower losses but HVDC has to use AC at both ends for several reasons including economical and practical.

[mdshawkathossain]

Tani amar pora life ki 20 lakh lakh corore trillion usa dollar ar mamla

[mdshawkathossain]

Tani tui liza ke bolecis se amar dunia he

[mdshawkathossain]

Tani Islam bhai ke cash koto deacis one corore taka