How Electricity Actually Works

Things like this are why Audiogon  forums are required reading at all top universities offering Electrical Engineering degrees. 

electric signal travels through the conductor approximately 5c i.e. 5 speeds of light.

     Unless they've majorly updated the EE textbooks, since my days of higher learning: those taking such courses are still being instructed on how folks thought electricity worked in the 1800s.

     Of course: when you're only interested in (basically) making things work, those old theories, laws and measurement practices are fine.

     It was interesting, comparing what was taught and lectured upon, between the Physics and EE Depts, regarding electricity, at Case.

     Made for quite a few interesting discussions between course participants.

     Our discussions weren't quite as animated as those at the 1927 Solvay Conference, I suppose, BUT: there was still a contingent (like here, on AudiogoN), that wanted the universe (and electricity) to always make sense.    Of course, it's been widely/scientifically proven: it seldom does.

I'm glad I'm retiring. Electrical Engineering degrees. I dug ditches and laid pipe. Water runs down hill. OK, You got a degree in plumbing. Oh and keep your hands out of your mouth. How many engineers does it take to wire a new house?

I got a question. Why 50 or 60 hz and why 220-230, 100vac, 120vac, and why AC and DC? Isn't most solar DC? Maybe Edison was right. Water still runs down hill though.