Comments on: Shell Game http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: BubbaB http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/comment-page-1/#comment-44862 BubbaB Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:15:07 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/#comment-44862 DOH!! There is no such thing as a perfect resistor!! As current increases, the resistor heats up, which actually INCREASES the resistance. At some point, equilibrium is achieved, but by then, power is lost in the resistance... Duh... Also the reason that AC is preferred over DC. You can increase the voltage in AC, and step it down using transformers. Can't do that with DC. Well, you can, but not easily, and not without added expense and loss of efficiency. DOH!! There is no such thing as a perfect resistor!! As current increases, the resistor heats up, which actually INCREASES the resistance. At some point, equilibrium is achieved, but by then, power is lost in the resistance…

Duh… Also the reason that AC is preferred over DC. You can increase the voltage in AC, and step it down using transformers. Can’t do that with DC. Well, you can, but not easily, and not without added expense and loss of efficiency.

]]> By: Gaius http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/comment-page-1/#comment-44599 Gaius Mon, 20 Nov 2006 23:14:43 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/#comment-44599 Higher voltage, lower current, less loss to heat. I'll have to look around, I haven't really checked into it. I learned all my power the old fashioned way. Falling asleep on the book and absorbing it through osmosis. Higher voltage, lower current, less loss to heat. I’ll have to look around, I haven’t really checked into it. I learned all my power the old fashioned way. Falling asleep on the book and absorbing it through osmosis.

]]> By: BubbaB http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/comment-page-1/#comment-44594 BubbaB Mon, 20 Nov 2006 23:03:54 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/20/shell-game/#comment-44594 Gaius: Excellent write-up on wind power. I work as an embedded software engineer, but my degree is in electrical engineering. I actually requested a "power" class at my college, but they started it after I left. You are right, very few colleges have it as a separate class. I learned the basics in my circuits and signals course (including phasors!), but I have always wanted to learn more. Do you know of a good website that discusses some of the more "esoteric" things? I never totally understood why the amount of power loss in transmission line would decrease with an increasing voltage. The power delivered to the transformer is the same, regardless of what the voltage is (V=IR, power = V^2/R.) Hold on. I think I just partially answered my question. It's not resistance of the power line, it's the net impedance, isn't it? Anyway, any suggested websites? Gaius:

Excellent write-up on wind power. I work as an embedded software engineer, but my degree is in electrical engineering. I actually requested a “power” class at my college, but they started it after I left. You are right, very few colleges have it as a separate class. I learned the basics in my circuits and signals course (including phasors!), but I have always wanted to learn more. Do you know of a good website that discusses some of the more “esoteric” things?

I never totally understood why the amount of power loss in transmission line would decrease with an increasing voltage. The power delivered to the transformer is the same, regardless of what the voltage is (V=IR, power = V^2/R.) Hold on. I think I just partially answered my question. It’s not resistance of the power line, it’s the net impedance, isn’t it?

Anyway, any suggested websites?

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