“Anyone remember why AC won over DC?”
AC voltage can be raised and lowered with fully mechanical transformers. DC needs electronic DC to DC converters which semi conductors did not exist in the 1890s. High voltage AC allows for hundreds of miles of.transmission distances with acceptable losses. 120V DC goes hundreds of feet. Edison DC plants needed to be near every building within 1500 feet, Tesla(hallowed be his name) AC could be miles away at Niagara falls actually.
Modern HVDC as in 500,000 to China’s 1 million volt DC lines can send power for thousands not hundreds of miles with low losses but those are only possible with 21st century level of Silicon carbide semiconductor materials you need two very expensive DC to DC converters one at each end and a slew of capacitors and reactive power components again none of that existed in the 19th century when the USA grid was being developed.
“Anyone remember why AC won over DC?”