-=> Quoting Joe Nicholson  to Scott Huffman <=-
 SH> (1) Why do mains transmission lines ("power lines") transmit
 SH> alternating current more efficiently (with much less loss)
 SH> than direct current?  [which is one of the two reasons why
 SH> we use A.C. for mains power..]
 JN> DC can't be stepped up or stepped down in a transformers, like the
 JN> ones you see on top of poles all over the country.
 JN> Thus, the power companies use high voltage at low current in their
 JN> transmission lines to reduce IR losses, then steps it down for the
 JN> short distance run to a consumer wherever necessary.
Nope.  Transmission lines are three-phase which is a more efficient method
of carting energy availability around over long distances with high loads.
AC is more useful to the consumer too, being very easily transformed into
whatever's needed by powered devices.
Oh, and AC's more easily generated than DC, and is safer for the
shocked consumer
Is there a Scanner-type question coming up?
rgdZ
Richard
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