I have heard--but don't know if it's true--that 60Hz was adopted as the standard line frequency because of its utility in timing applications. Analog electric clocks, I am told, derive their regulation from the line current--60 seconds, 60 minutes, etc.
My Dad told me about a town in Illinois where he lived as a boy or young man which had a community-owned electric utility and which supplied DC to its customers. This would have been in the 1920's, I think.
73.
Mike, K9AZS
> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 13:42:42 -0800
>Subject: Re: OT - Line Voltages, Frequency in History
>Just wondering if anyone knows why we went to 60 hz instead of 50 hz?
>73s
>Butch Bussen
>wa0vjr