High frequency is generally bad for transmission line losses, so getting power from A to B is better at lower frequency — DC is a great option here.
If we switched to DC, many things would still flicker though as they would presumably use switching power supplies, but those could be relatively high frequency like you said.
Interestingly, airplanes use 400Hz, as transmission over distance doesn’t matter, and transformers can be made much smaller/lighter.
They’re more efficient than old school ac-dc linear supplies (of which an ac transformer is just a part of). However if you just want to step up or down ac voltage, transformers are quite efficient.
But we could just attach an antenna to our roofs and steal electricity, I consider it worth the transmission loss if we can create more transmission loss.
Do you think we will ever change our power grid to have a higher frequency so that our bulbs don’t flicker when we record things?
How about banning flickering lamps? I’d ban screeching power adapters too.
High frequency is generally bad for transmission line losses, so getting power from A to B is better at lower frequency — DC is a great option here.
If we switched to DC, many things would still flicker though as they would presumably use switching power supplies, but those could be relatively high frequency like you said.
Interestingly, airplanes use 400Hz, as transmission over distance doesn’t matter, and transformers can be made much smaller/lighter.
Also if we switched to DC, you’d need costly dcdc transformers to step up the voltage for transmission and back down again for domestic usage
Aren’t switching mode power supplies smaller and more efficient than regular AC transformers anyway?
They’re more efficient than old school ac-dc linear supplies (of which an ac transformer is just a part of). However if you just want to step up or down ac voltage, transformers are quite efficient.
But we could just attach an antenna to our roofs and steal electricity, I consider it worth the transmission loss if we can create more transmission loss.