Comments by "Ted Sanders" (@surferdude642) on "AC Power - Alternating Current Generation - Explained" video.

  1. I think the concept would be easier to understand if you show a rotating magnet around a section of stationary coiled wires at 180° apart.
    1
  2. In residential applications the transformer on the power pole supplies 240v when measured from opposite poles of the secondary windings. The 120v comes from the mid point (center tap) and is the origin of the neutral conductor. Both ends of the transformer secondary are used and this is determined by circuit breaker placement in the electrical panel. Because of the center tap and neutral wire, polarity is critical when wiring residential circuitry. There should be 0v on the neutral wires, but they are current carrying. The neutral wire is a dedicated return line and the hot wire is a power in line, but also can be a return line in certain cases. With 240v there's no neutral and the power and return alternate symmetrically. Some 240v plugs and receptacles will have a neutral wire for appliances that use both 240v and 120v.
    1
  3. My understanding is that the valence electrons in a copper wire which are not tightly held are moved back and forth between neighboring atoms throughout the entire wire length. They are moved by the constant magnetic attraction and repulsion in the power generator. This movement is enough to generate electricity even though DC is just one direction and one continuous voltage unless the resistance and/or current is changed.
    1
  4. In the southwestern US most of it comes from the Hoover Dam hydro electric turbines.
    1