In the early years of power generation in the late 1880s Thomas Edison advocated using a direct power grid for the nation. Since DC current cannot be efficiently transmitted over long distances DC generators had to be built close to the homes and factories where the power was being used. George Westinghouse, with the help of Nicola Tesla's expertise, set up power grids using Alternating Current. With an alternating current system power generators could be built in remote locations and transmitted over long distances using small wires and high voltage. With the use of high voltage power transmission and step-down transformers, AC power became the norm and Edison's DC system soon became obsolete. Before working for Westinghouse, Tesla was employed by Edison who said of him: "Tesla's ideas are splendid, but they are utterly impractical."
The photo on the top left is of Thomas Edison who was an American inventor. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera and the electric light bulb.
The photo to the right is of Nikola Tesla who was a Serbian-American inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer. He is best known for his contributions to the modern alternating current electrical supply system.
