"We build our solar arrays in orbit around the earth...."

Hey - anybody remember the story - not sure if it was Asimov - about MW broadcasting being manned by robots. they got "Religion", and caused great panic... I won't give the spoiler... :-)


Amos - any useful links you came across on HVDC?

1) Galvanic action is of no consequence with AC... :-) and it's a REAL BASTARD to fight... :-)

Hmmm 500KV DC vs 400Kv AC....

Well each time you change AC-DC & DC-AC, you get a loss - I don't see normal households being able to cope with a DC power feed - which is why "which is why Edison Electric is not the world's biggest company in electricity, and General Electric is"... (guess which one went with AC and which with DC...)

And interestingly - DC - at a fixed voltage vs AC - ah - MEASURING the VOLTAGE at AC is a game all in itself!!! RMS, leading/lagging phase etc...

As well anything near the HVAC line that is in any way conductive sucks power by induction (so HVDC seems better).

But, any corona will be exciting - with DC it just won't stop! OK AC will keep arcing too... :-)

Would like to find out more... especially with the long term full scale tests... I'm old enough to know about 'theory vs practice'... :-)