AC>  JK> As far as I know the reason for AC is that it is transmissable over 
AC> long
AC>  JK> distances which might not be a large factor if self produced.
AC> 
AC> That's just a bit of it. There are some very long DC lines [1000miles or
AC> more]. Notable ones include Volgograd- Donbass [1400 mi I think], 
ngland-
AC> France, Los Angeles- Washington, Vancouver Is to Canada, Sweden- Denmark 
AC> and
AC> NZ North to NZ South [under ocean].
AC> 
AC> Other advantages of AC- light, cheaper, reliable motors.
AC>                         switch and circuit breaker design and mfr simpler
AC>                         no electrolysis [corrosion due to DC]
AC>                         wiring to instruments and relays at control desk 
AC> is
AC>                         easily insulated from the power conductors
AC>                         can easily interconnect several power systems
AC> 
The major advantage of AC power (and the reason for it's commercial use) is 
the fact that transformers can be used to step-up or step-down the voltage.  
This allows you the step up the voltage at the transmission point to a level 
where the line loss due to the resistance of the tranmission lines becocomes 
negligable in comparison.  This high voltage is then stepped down at your 
local substation, and yet again before it actually hits your meter.
Kevin
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