The meter was
indispensable estimating costs and constructing profitable
load for central stations. decided build the first central
station commercial district downtown Manhattan (instead
of the more thickly populated uptown), because expected that
electric lighting could not beat the competition gas "but
hoped meet selling power.
Edison criticized the high voltage alternating current
technology saw the late 1880s the grounds its
complexity, unreliability, and threat public safety.
As practical inventor, Edison was concerned with the
loss efficiency alternating current transformers. a
businessman, the lack a/c motor and meter the late
1880s made its commercial value slight. told
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evaluation the new technology. The Siemens Halske Company
sent detailed report alternating current technology to
Edison 1886 which outlined the progress the new
O O
technology Europe. Edison was firmly convinced its
importance the system and improvement the meter was a
major research project. This and other alternating current
technology was examined the West Orange laboratory. The Edison Electric Light Company went
on buy option the alternating current transformer
system Zipernowski, Blathy, and Deri (ZBD), which had
achieved success Europe. The lack alternating current
motor was even greater disadvantage; Edison considered that
the motor load was the essential part profitable central
station operation
