Electrical Inventors

Benjamin Franklin:

In his famous experiment using a key and a kite during a thunderstorm, Franklin (working with his son) tested his hypothesis that lightning bolts are actually powerful electrical currents.

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Michael Faraday:

best known for his discoveries of electromagnetic Induction and the laws of Electrolysis. His biggest breakthrough in Electricity was his invention of the electric motor..

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to be completed shortly...

War of Currents

=> Thomas Alva Edison Vs Nikola Tesla

Nickola Tesla: The Genius who lit the world. Have you heard of Nickola Tesla? Surprisingly, many people still do not realize the impact his work has made on American society, and the whole world. You might be wondering, "What is the War of Currents and what does it have to do with Nickola Tesla?" Well picture this...

Two mentalities come to a clash. One relies on the systematic proofs of trial and error. The other uses mathematical principles and theory to derive results. No booms or bangs of detonating cannons, or explosions of military camps are heard. Only the tension of conflicting beliefs, paired with the piercing buzz of electircal currents penotrating the air. The casualties? A few commoners in a freak electrical accident and some household pets. Not quite like an ordinary war? That's because it isn't. It is The War of Currents, led by the two genuises Thomas Edison and Nickola Tesla.

In 1887, the sparks that ignited The War of Currents arose. It was a time when elctricity was lighting homes and streets all over America's cities. The energy was provided by Thomas Edison's direct current, usually referred to as DC. Edison's breakthrough was a turning point for life in America. At that point, electricity could be transmitted from its source to a light bulb ten feet away. Even more useful, power from one building would be shot down a wire to a neighboring building, sharing energy and the new luxury of light. The DC system, however, was far from perfect. DC moves only in one direction and has a constant voltage. This is a straight forward method for creating power, but the voltage tended to heat and often melt the copper wires through which it ran. This made DC transmission for distances over a mile dangerous, and sometimes impossible. Also, DC power cannot be changed by a transformer because of its unvarying voltage. Edison's solution was to merely create more wires to accomodate the needs of the city. This unfortunately caused New York to look more like a spider web rather than an industrialized city. In addition to the unattractive appearance DC imposed, hazardous effects arose as well. In the Great Blizzard of March 11-14, 1888, a total of four hundred people died. Many of those deaths were caused by an excess of collapsing DC wires that electrocuted those below. Clearly something had to be changed...

Nikola Tesla was born in eastern Europe, in what is now called Croatia near the border of Bosnia. His revolutionary way of thinking presented somewhat of an opposition to Edison's DC system. Tesla invisioned a form of power called alternating current, also known as AC. He knew the faults of DC, and brainstormed a way to eliminate those problems, with an electric current of his own. AC's voltage, unlike DC, is not constant. While DC's voltage can be presented as a linear function with a constant value, AC voltage can be displayed as a sine wave. This is not as straight forward as Edison's system because one might think power is reduced when the voltage is in the negative phase of the sine wave. However, power does not rely solely on voltage; power = voltage x current. The current of AC also resembles a sine wave, being negative and positive at the same time the voltage is. So when the two negative values are multiplied, the power is still positive. Therefore, the same amount of power can be attained from the AC system, without keeping a constant high voltage that caused endless wire damage in the DC system. The most important advantage of the AC system is its ability to be modified by a transformer. With the AC system, the same line used to power a lamp can also used to power a motor. No more melting or excessive wires, no more distance restrcitions, no more DC. Tesla had outdone Edison, not by improving the DC system, but by creating a whole new electrical wonder of his own.

And so the war began. It was said that Edison, well aware of his system becoming obsolete, would not accept AC because it wasn't his idea. He then launched an anti-AC campaign, describing DC as "a river flowing peacefully to the sea, while alternating current was like a torrent rushing violently over a precipice." With the help of Harold Brown, Edison would continue the battle for sales, and recognition. Brown assisted Edison's propaganda by electrocuting dogs and horses to demonstrate the "dangers" of the AC system. These string of electrocutions actually led the the development of the electric chair.

Tesla's only efforts in this battle were demonstrations of his efficient AC motors and transformable power. At the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, J.P. Morgan (General Electric Company) offered to power the first all-electric fair. GE was a company backing DC, and they asked for one million dollars to light the fair. This task would require massive amounts of copper wire, some for the motors, and others for the lights. Different wires had to be used because of DC's unchanging voltage. George Westinghouse was by this time, a believer and supporter of Tesla's AC system. He offered to light the fair for half the price. This was a practical offer because AC wouldn't require all the wire DC needed. So a point was won for AC and Tesla when Westinghouse was granted the contract for powering the fair.

GE's retaliation was to ban the use of Edison's lamps for Westinghouse. This was a small obstacle for Tesla and Westinghouse, as they once again paralyzed the public in awe at the Columbian Exposition later that same year. They were chosen over Edison's DC system to power the fairgrounds and win the appreciation of spectators and energy users of the country. It didn't take many more displays of superiority for AC to be renowned as the more efficient power source. Soon after, 80% of all electric devices in the U.S. were for alternating current. Finally, the AC system was recognized as the invention that would light the future.

Men who matters!

There are a few men who Impressed and Inspired me. Apart from my dad there are few more men who played an important role in my life.

Guess what! all of them are fortunately those who have taught me (Teachers) at school level and in engineering level. Naturally, I am a teacher's pet, it all began in St. John's High School when I was really brought up by my first favorite teacher Mrs. Teresa Ross. It was in my 6th standard when she joined our school, she taught us English! unfortunately I was really poor at English at that time, then it was her really improved my communication skills, she is a never forgetting teacher to me.

Well, coming to the real men who matters, then I should really talk about Mr. Ravi sir first. Ravi sir was my Physics teacher in 10th standard, I pursued my 10th in Aditya High school. He was the first to recognize the technical talent in me, he really inspired me towards the subject. I was very good with Electricals at 10th standard (we used to have some Electrical topics like series and parallel connections of bulbs and resistors etc..) seeing all my activities done in the class room, Ravi sir used to call me as "Scientist" he wishes me to become a scientist. With all his Inspiration I scored very good marks in Intermediate and made Physics a easy subject for myself...

But coming to Engineering I've chosen to study Electrical Engg. which I had decided in my 10th itself, I also discussed about it few times with Ravi sir.. Though I am good at physics, Electrical Engineering was completely different and new to me. I loved it a lot solving Circuit analysis in the first year. I struggled with the extended topics of Electrical engg. (concepts of Electromagnetic Fields and Pulse Digital Circuits) in 2-1. but in my second semester I found two of those men who really lifted up my Electrical spirit, they are Mr. Murali Krishna sir and Mr. Ravinder sir. Murali sir was our HoD (Head of the Department) and Ravinder sir was a senior faculty of same experience as Murali sir. Under their guidance I really excelled a lot, both taught me the subject but personally I feel that Ravinder sir was more at teaching and Murali sir showed me different paths in outside Electrical world. To be frank, I really did some wonders under their guidance, like winning (first place) Paper Presentation and Technical Quiz events in both outside the college and within the college.

more about Myself...

Yeah, there is something more to know about myself. I follow "My Life My Rules" principle rather than following some one Else's principles. I create principles for myself. What ever gives me Happiness and Success, I follow them.

From my childhood I always had that burning fire inside me which makes something happen (better than nothing) and keeps me excited. I always go for Extremes, which my friends always oppose saying that "is that necessary now..??" I do walk fast to save time ;-)

There is a comparison and some similarities between me and two of Electrical devices. First is the Synchronous machine which can generate Electricity for this world only when it is excited with some DC excitation to its rotor.. So Just like it, I too need some friends keep on exciting me ( I found quiet many of those and did some impressive things in my B.Tech) the second Electrical device which I have similarities with is the Thyristor (my fav Electrical device) it also needs some gate pulses for its conduction to serve its purpose.

I am not different from my mates but I do things differently, in my own ways. which my friends think is not necessary.. but doing so always keep me in advanced than my competitors. Yep! I like competitions lot, I give my self completely in such cases. I always try to be the best among with whom I compete..

What I Love the most?

Yep! that's an Interesting question to ask me..

First comes my Parents! then next and before everybody its My deep dedication towards Australia.

Yeah, you heard it right.. Its Australia! from my childhood I was brought by the true spirit of Oz.. and especially with their Cricket team. It was in 1999 when it all happened to me to become an Aussie fan, since then I carried it into my heart and even faced many teasings from my friends on being an Australian fan. But I never looked back, because that's my Identity. Just as you've seen the flag above it always flies high inside me. to be frank, this feeling along with my St. Johns High School (from 5th std to 7th std) have set a path of confidence for my future career.