The nineteenth century is often known as ‘the Time of Greatest Inventors’. The world was gifted with scientists and researchers who worked for the advancement of science for the betterment of humanity. However, with great minds comes greater conflicts and disagreements. Among the top inevitable and unforgettable rivalries of the golden time, is ‘The War of Currents’ between the American inventor and businessman, Thomas Alva Edison, and the Serbian-American engineer and futurist, Nikola Tesla.
“They’re different inventors, but you can’t really say one is greater, because American society needs some Edisons and it needs some Teslas.” ~W. Bernard Carlson
Tesla and Alternating Current (AC)
Nikolas Tesla, the epitome of eccentricity and futurism, was a brilliant inventor and a genius whose inventions enabled modern-day power and mass communication systems. Tesla’s eidetic memory and extraordinary mind led him to develop technologies and concepts that transformed the world. Alternating current (AC) is one of his groundbreaking works that laid the foundation for the electrical power distribution systems used now. Tesla’s thoughts and inventions were futuristic and modern. It is hence not surprising that his ideas, however great, were sometimes perceived as improbable and far-fetched.
What is AC?
Alternating current or AC works on the concept of the flow of charge reversing its magnitude and direction periodically. AC is an electric current that changes its magnitude and polarity periodically or at regular intervals of time. The biggest advantage of using an AC over a DC is that an AC can be transmitted over large distances without great loss of energy.
Edison and Direct Current
An iconic businessman with a curious and scientific mind, Edison was a celebrity in the world of science who held more than 1000 patents under his name. He was a pragmatic thinker who focused on the idea of refining existing technologies to make them more efficient and commercially viable. His greatest inventions included the light bulb, phonographs and more, making him an expert in the field. It is hence not surprising that Edison was favoured and glorified as a great thinker and leader in contrast to Tesla for a long time in history. Edison had on his side the greatest bankers and supporters of America at the time. He also had the power and seniority to employ Tesla in his company, The Edison Machine Works.
What is DC?
Direct current or DC is a type of current that does not change its direction or magnitude with time. That is, it is a unidirectional type of current with a fixed magnitude. DC is more efficient and safer to use and it provides control over its magnitude, unlike the AC current. Moreover, DC is used in the majority of electronic items and is much safer than AC.
Edison vs Tesla: The War of Current
The rivalry became evident during Tesla’s tenure in The Edison Machine Works. Both men were firm on their idea of the future of the electrical distribution system and campaigned for the same. Edison favoured the then-current DC model which was more expensive and less efficient than the AC model. While Tesla saw the potential in the AC model but lacked the support to showcase the same. Firm on his DC model and fearful of the AC’s safety risks, Edison launched a campaign against Tesla’s one. He even went to extreme lengths to discredit AC technology by publicly electrocuting animals to show its dangers.
Chicago World’s Fair, 1893, was the turning point for their rivalry. Tesla, backed by George Westinghouse, successfully showcased the perks of his model by illuminating the fairgrounds with his AC-powered system. This discredited Edison’s claims for the DC system and established Tesla as a worthy component for him. It also led to the widespread adoption of AC as the standard for electrical power transmission. Tesla also held a public demonstration where he lit up a string of lights using his AC motor powered by Niagra Falls. This proved once and for all that AC current was safe to use and much more efficient than DC one.
The war ended when even Edison accepted the invention of the AC current as a remarkable one. However, the science community still ponders over this intellectual war, leading to interesting group discussions and debates even in the age of AI.
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