• DOI:10.1109/T-AIEE.1888.5570379
• Corpus ID: 44190462

A new system of alternate current motors and transformers

@article{Tesla1984ANS,
  title={A new system of alternate current motors and transformers},
  author={Nikola Tesla},
  journal={Proceedings of the IEEE},
  year={1984},
  volume={72},
  pages={165-173}
}

• N. Tesla
• Published 1 July 1888
• History
• Proceedings of the IEEE

In this classic paper presented at an AlEE meeting on May 16, 1888, Nikola Tesla outlined some of the potential advantages of a revolutionary alternating-current power system that would largely supplant the older direct-current system developed by Thomas Edison following a short struggle known as the “battle of the systems.” Additional details of the new system were contained in a group of US. patents that were issued to Tesla approximately two weeks before he gave this paper. Thomas C. Martin, chairman of the AlEE committee on papers, later wrote that he had experienced great difficulty in persuading Tesla to present the paper and that it had been written in haste the night before the meeting. The Tesla system was exhibited at the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and was used in the historic hydroelectric power project at Niagara Falls that provided a convincing demonstration of the advantages of a universal polyphase power system. The Tesla alternating-current motor became a versatile work horse of industry and household appliances.