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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/eng-hvdc-long-distance

AC won the 1890s War of the Currents. What is high voltage DC (HVDC) used for today?

Moving power over long distances with lower losses.

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  1. Wiring inside homes
  2. Nothing; DC grids were abandoned
  3. Sending power long distances ✔

Why: AC won because transformers change its voltage easily. Modern power electronics can now convert DC too, and HVDC lines lose less energy over very long runs.

Huh, didn't know that: Westinghouse lit the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with Tesla's AC system, a big win for AC.

The dad joke
AC and DC had a war. Now they work together. Turns out it was just a phase.
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References

Answer: Sending power long distances. AC won because transformers change its voltage easily. Modern power electronics can now convert DC too, and HVDC lines lose less energy over very long runs.

  1. US DOE, The War of the Currents: AC vs. DC Power www.energy.gov/articles/war-currents-ac-vs-dc-power
    using high voltage direct current (HVDC) to transport electricity long distances
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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