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0 pointsmr_toad1d ago0 comments

> If there was anything like a high power transistor back then he would have used that.

Mercury arc rectifiers were used long before his death.

0 comments

Yes, but a rectifier only rectifies. That's not going to give you DC-DC conversion - let alone converting it to a higher voltage for long-distance transmission.

wildzzz1d ago

DC-DC before the transistor was difficult to do at scale. Vibrators and relays existed but were not reliable long term.

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0 pointsmr_toad1d ago0 comments

> If there was anything like a high power transistor back then he would have used that.

Mercury arc rectifiers were used long before his death.

0 comments

crote1d ago

Yes, but a rectifier only rectifies. That's not going to give you DC-DC conversion - let alone converting it to a higher voltage for long-distance transmission.

wildzzz1d ago

DC-DC before the transistor was difficult to do at scale. Vibrators and relays existed but were not reliable long term.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse