The TeslaAlternating-CurrentPower

System
Introduced by JAMES E. BRlTTAlN
EDITORIAL

COMMENTARY

In this classic paper presented at an AlEE meeting on May16,1888, 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 Edisonfollowing a short struggle known as the battle of
the systems. Additional details of the new systemwere 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 greatdifficulty 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 demonstrationof the advantages of a universal polyphase power
system.The Tesla alternating-currentmotor became a versatile work horse of industry and household
appliances.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was born in what is now Yugoslavia and studied engineeringat the Polytechnic
School in Graz,Austria.He
worked briefly as a telephone engineer in Budapest before joining the
Continental Edison Company in Paris. In 1884 he came to the United States where he soon terminated his
employment with Edisonand
formedthe
TeslaElectricLightCompany.He
soldtherights
to his
alternating-current patents to the Westinghouse Electric Company in July 1888. Following a brief period of
employment at Westinghouse, Tesla resumed his career as an independent inventor and concentrated on
high-frequency and high-voltagephenomenaproducedbythe
Tesla induction coil. One ofhis lecture
demonstrations given in 1893attractedanaudience of morethan5000,andhewasawardedtheEdison
Medal of the AlEE in 19l7. He became controversial in the early 20th century and lived a reclusive life in
contrast to his earlier years as a celebrity. Hewas elected to the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1975
andwas honoredrecentlyby a US. postagestampissued in September1983.For furtherbiographical
information, see the Dictionary of American Biography,vol. 23, pp. 767-770; Gorden D. Friedlander, Tesla:
EccentricGenious, IEEE Spectrum, pp. 26-29; June1972;MargaretCheney,
Tesla: Man Out of Time
(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1981). My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla, Edited with
an Introduction by Ben Johnston(Williston, VT; Hart Brothers, 1982). Also see Thomas P. Hughes, Networks
of Power: Electrification in Western Society, 7880-7930 (Baltimore, MD:Johns Hopkins Press,1983), pp.
109-1 20.

A NEW SYSTEM OF ALTERNATECURRENT

MOTORS AND TRANSFORMERS.
BY NIKOLA TESLA.
In the presence of the existing diversity of opinion regarding the relative merits of the alternate and continuous current
systems great importance is attached to the question whether
alternate currents can be .mm&dly utilized in the operation
of motors. The transformers with their numerous advantages,
have afforded us a relatively perfect system of disttiiution;
James E. Brittain is with the School of SocialSciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
Reprinted fromtheAmericanInstitute
of Electrical Engineers
Transactions, vol. 5, pp. 308-327, Sept. 1887 to Oct. 1668. Copyright
1887 by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

PROCEEDINGS O F T H E IEEE, VOL. 7 2 , N O . 2. FEBRUARY 1984

and although, as in all branches of the art, many improvements are desirable, comparatively little remains to be done in
this direction The transmission of power, on the contrary,has
beenalmostentmlyconfinedtotheuseofcontillwcurrents, and notwithstanding that many efforts have been made
utilize alternate currents for this purpose, they have, up to
thepresent,atleastasfarasknown,failedtogivetherrsult
desired.OfthevariommotorsradaptedtobeusedonaIternate
current circuits the fdlowing have been m
e
n
d
i
t:
1. A series
motor with subdivided field. 2. An alternate current generator
having its field excited by continuous aments. 3. Elihn Ihomsons motor. 4. A oombined alternate and continuous current
to.

165

motor. Two more motors of this kind have suggested themselves to me. 1.A motor with one ofits circuits in series with a
transformer and the other
in the secondaryof the transformer.
2. Amotorhaving
its armaturecircuit c o ~ e c t e dtothe
generator and the field coils closed upon themselves. These,
however, I mention only incidentally.
The subject which I now have the pleasure of bringing to
distribution,and
yournotice is a novelsystemofelectric
transmission of power by means of alternate currents,affording pecuhar advantages, particularly in the wayof motors,
which I am confident will at once establish thesuperior
adaptability of these currents to the transmission ofpower
and will show that many results heretofore unattainable can
be reached by theiruse; results which are very much desiredin
the practical operation of such systems and which cannot be
accomplished by means of continuous currents.
tm, I
Beforegoing into a detailed description of this syse
think it neceSSary to make a few remarks with reference to
certain conditions existing in continuous current generators
and motors, which, although generally know are frequently
disregarded.
In our dynamo machines, it is wellknown,we
generate
alternate currentswhich we direct by means of a commutator,
a complicated device and, it may be justly said, the source of
most of thetroubles experienced in theoperation of the
machines. Now, the currents so directed cannot be utilized in
themotor, but theymust-againby
means of a similar
unreliable device-be reconverted into their original state of
alternate currents. The fmction of the commutator is entirely
external, and in no way does it affect the internal working of
the machines. In reality, therefore, all machines are alternate
current machines, the currents appearing as continuous only
in the external circuit during their transit from generator to
motor. In view simply of this fact, alternate currents would
commend themselves as a more direct applicationof electrical
energy,and the employment of continuous currents would
only be justified if we had dynamos which would primarily
dmctly actuated by
generate,andmotorswhichwouldbe
such currents.
But the operation of the commutatoron a motor is twefold;
firstly, it reverses the currents through themotor,and secondly, it effectsautomatically,aprogressiveshifting
of the
poles of one of its magnetic constituents.Assuming, therefore,
that both of the useless operations in the system, that is to say,
the directing of the alternate currents on the generator and
reversing the direct currents on the motor, be eliminated, it
would stiU be nesesary in order to cause a rotation of the
motor, to produce a progressiveshifting of the poles of one of
its elements, and the question presented itself.-How to perform this operation by the direct action of alternate currents?
I will now proceed to show how this result was accomplished.
In the first experiment a drum-armature was provided with
two coils at nght angles to each other, and the ends of these
coils were connected to two pairs of insulated contact-ringsas
usual. Aring was thenmade of thin insulatedplates of
sheet-iron and wound with four coils, each two opposite coils
bemg connectedtogether so as to producefreepoles
on
diametrically opposite sides of thering.Theremainingfree
ends of the coils were then connected to the contact-rings of
the generator armatureso as to form two independent circuits,
as indicated in figure 9. It may now be seen what results were

Flg. 1 1

secured in this combination, and with this view I would refer

to the diagrams, figures 1 to 8a. The field of the generator
being independentlyexcited, the rotation of the armature sets
up currents in the coils c c , varying in strength and direction

in the well-known manner. In the position shown in figure 1,

thecurrent in coil c is nil while c, is traversedby its
maximum current, and the COMeCtiollS may be such that the
ring is magnetized by the coils clcl as indicated by the letters
NS in figure l a , the magnetizing effectof the coils cc being nil,
since thesecoils are included in the circuit of coil c.
In figure2, the armature coils are shown in a more advanced position,one-eighthof
one revolution being completed. Figure 2 a illustrates the corresponding magnetic conditionofthe ring. At this momentthe coil c1 generates a
current of the same direction as previously, but weaker, producing the polesnlsl upon the ring; the coil c also generates a
current of the same direction, and the connections may
be
such that the coils cc produce the poles m, as shown in figure
2a. The resulting polarityis indicated by the letters NS,and it

will be observed that the poles of the ring have been shifted

one-eighth of the peripheryof the same.

In figure 3 the armature has completed onequarter of one
revolution. In this phase the currentin coil c is maxm
i um,and
ofsuch direction as to producethepoles NS in figure 3a,
whereasthecurrent in coil c1 is nil, this coil being at its
neutral position. The polesNS in figure 3a are thus shifted one
quarter of the circumferenceof the ring.

PROCEEDINGS O F THE IEEE, VOL. 72, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1984

Fir. 4.

m. 4 &

0)
e
N

Rg.I C
Figure 4 shows the coils cc in a still moreadvanced
position, the armature having completed three-eights of one
revolution. At that moment the coilc still generates a current
of the same directionas before, but of less strength, producing
the comparatively weaker polesns in figure 4a. The currentin
the coil C, is of the same strength, but opposite direction. Its
effect is therefore, to produce upon the ring the poles nlslas
indicatedandapolarity,
NS, results,thepolesnowbeing
shifted three-eighthsof the peripheryof the ring.
In figure 5 one-halfofonerevolution of the armature is
completed, and the resulting magnetic conditionof the ring is
indicated in figure 5a. Now the current in coil c is nil,while
the coil c, yields it maximum current, which is of the same
direction as previously;themagnetizingeffect is, therefore,
due to the coils, clcl alone, and, referring to figure 5a, it will
beobservedthatthepoles
NS areshiftedonehalf
of the
circumference of the ring. Dunng the next half revolution the
operations are repeated, as represented in the figures6 to 8a.
A reference to the diagrams will make it clear that during
one revolutionof the armaturethe poles of the ringare shifted

once around its periphery, and each revolution producing like

effects,arapid whirling of thepoles in harmony with the
rotation of the armature is the result. If the conndm of
either one of the circuits in the ring are reversed, the shifting
of the poles is made to progress in the opposite direction,but
the operation is identically the same. Instead of using four
wires,
with
like
result, three wires may
be used, one
forming
a
common return for both circuits.
This rotation or whirling of the poles manifests itself in a
series of curious phenomena If a delicately pivoted disc of
steel or othermametic metal is amroached to the r i a it is set
in rapid rotatiodl the direction b'f rotation varying with the
position of the disc. For instance, noting the direction outside
of the ring it will be found that inside the ring it turns in an
opposite direction, whileit is unaffected if placed in a position
symmetrical to thering. This is easilyexplained.Eachtime
thata poleapproaches, it inducesanoppositepole
in the
nearest point on the disc, and an attraction is produced upon
that point; owing to this, as the pole is shifted further away
from the disc a tangential pull is exerted upon the same, and
theaction being constantlyrepeated,a more or less rapid

Flm. 8.

rotation of the disc is the result. As the puli is exerted mainly

uponthat part which is nearest to the ring, the rotation
p
p
outside and inside, or right and left, respectively, is in o
site directions, figure 9. when placedsymmetrically to the
ring, the pull on the opposite sides of the disc being equal, no
rotation results. 'Ihe action is based on the magnetic inertia of
the iron; for this reason a disc of hard steel is much more
affectedthanadiscofso~iroqthelatterbeingcapableof
very rapid variationsof magnetism. Such a disc has proved to
be a veryuseful instrument in all these investigations, as it has
enabledmetodetectanyirregulantyintheactionAauiolLs
effect is also produced upon iron filings. By placing some
uponapaperandholdingthemextemallyquitcclosetothe
ringtheyaresetinavibratingmotioqremaininginthesame

TESLA: ALTERNATE CURRENT M O T O R S A N DTRANSFORMERS

167

place, although the paper may be moved back and forth; but
in lifting the paper to a certainheightwhich seems to be
dependent on theintensity of thepolesandthe
speed of
rotation, they are thrown away in a direction always opposite
to the supposed movement of the poles. If a paper with hlings
is put flat upon the ring and the current turned on suddenly,
the existenceof a magnetic whirl mayeasily be observed.
To demonstrate the complete analogybetween the ring and
a revolving magnet, a strongly energized electremagnet was
rotated bymechanicalpower,andphenomenaidenticalin
these mentioned
were
above
observed.
Fl#9 11.
particular
every
to
Obviously, the rotation of the poles producescorresponding
inductive effects andmay be utilized to generate currents in a
and y = KC',where K is a constant and c and C' the current in
c l o d coductorwithin the innuence of the poles, F~~
this purpose it is
to wind a ring with two sets of
both sets of coils, respectively. Supposing, further,thefield of
superimposed coils formin&respectively,theprimary
andthegenerator
to be uniform, we haveforconstant
speed
secondary circuits, as shown in figure 10. In order to secure
C ' = ~ ' s i n a ~ c = ~ ' ~ ( ~ ~ + a ) = ~ ' c o s
is a constant. See figure 12.

themost economical results the magneticcircuitshould be

completely closed, and with this object in view the construction may be modided at will
The inductive effect exerted upon the secondary coils will
be mainly due to the shdting or movement of the magnetic
action; but then may also be currents set up in the circuits in
comuence ofthe variations in the intensity of the poles.
However, by properly designins the generator and determinof the primary coils, the latter
element may be made to disappear.The intensity of the poles
being maintained constant, the actionof the apparatus will be
perfect, andthe same result will be secured as though the
shifting wereeffectedby
means of a commutator with an
infinite number of bars. In such case the theoretical relation
between the energizing effect of each set of primary coils and
theirresultantmagnetizingeffect may be expressedbythe
equation of a circle havingits centre coincidmg with that of an
orthogonal system of axes, and in which the radius represents
theresultant and the cosrdinates both of itscomponents.
These are then respectively the sine and cosine of the angle a
between the radius and one of the axes (OX). Referring to
figure11,wehaver=x2+y2;wherex=rcosa,andy=
rsin a.
Assuming the magnetizing effect of each set of coils in the
transformer to be proportional to the current-which may be
admitted for weakdegreesofmagnetization-then
x = Kc
ing themagnetizingeffect

168

~=Kc=KK'cosa;
y=Kc'==KK'sina,and

KK'= r .
That is, for a uniform field the disposition of the two coils
at right angles wiIl secure the theoretical result, and the
intensity of theshiftingpoles
will be constant. Butfrom
r2 = x2 + yz it fonows that for y = 0,r = x; it mows that
the joint magnetizing effect of both sets of coils should be
equal to the effect of one set when at its maximum action. In
transformers and in a certain class of motors the fluctuation
of the poles is not 'of great importance, butin another class of
these motors it is desirable to obtain the theoretical result.
In applying this principle to the constructionof motors, two
typical forms of motorhave been developed. First, a form
having a comparatively small rotaryeffortatthe
start but
maintaining a perfectly uniform speed at all loads,which
motor has been termed synchronous. Sewnd, a form possessing a great rotary effort at the start, the speed being dependent on the load.
These motors may be operated in three different ways: 1.
By the alternate currents of the source only. 2. By a combined
action of these and of induced currents. 3. By the joint action
of alternate and continuous currents.
The simplest form of a synchronous motor is obtained by
winding a laminated ring provided with pole projections with
four coils, andconnectingthe
same in themannerbefore
indicated. An iron disc having a segment cut away on each

PROCEEDINGS O F THE IEEE, VOL. 72, NO. 2 , FEBRUARY 1964

sidema~beusedasanarmature.Suchamotorisshownin
figure 9. The disc bemg arranged to rotate freely within the
ring in close proximity to the projections, it is evident that as
the poles are shifted it will, owing to its tendency to place
itself in such a position as to embrace the greatest number of
the lines of force, closely follow the movement of the poles,
and its motion will be synchronous with that of the armature
of the generator; that is, in the peculiar dqxmtion shown in
figure 9, in whichthe armature produces by one revolution
two current repulses in each of the circuits. It is evident that
if, byonerevolution of the armature, a greater number of
impulses is produced, the speed of the motor will be corre
spondingly increased. Considering that the attraction exerted
upon the disc is greatest when the same is in close proximity
to the poles, it follows that such a motorwill maintain exactly
the same speed at all loads within thelimits of its capacity.
To facilitate the startin& the disc may be provided with a
coil closed upon itself. The advantagesecured by such a coil is
evident. On the start the currents set up in the coil strongly
energize the disc and increase the attraction exerted upon the
samebytherin&andcurrentsbeinggeneratedinthecoilas
long as the speed of the armature is inferior to that of the
poles, considerable work may be performed by such a motor
even if the speed be below n
o
d The intensity of the poles
beingconstant,nocurrentswillbegeneratedinthecoilwhen
the motor is turning at its normal speed.
Instead of closingthe coil upon itself, its ends may be
m
e
c
e
td to two insulated sliding rings, and a continuous
current supplied to these from a suitable generator.'Ihe proper
waytostartsuchamotoristoclosethecoiluponitselfuntil
thenormalspeedisreached,ornearfyso,andthentumonthe
continuous current.If the disc be very strongly energized by a
continuous current the motormay not be able to start, but if it
be weakly energzed, or genedly so thatthemagnetizing
effect of the ring is preponderating it will start and reach the
normal speed. Such a motor will maintain absolutely the same
speed at all loads. It has also been found that if the motive
power of the generatoris not excessive, by checking the motor
the speed of the generator is dimhished in synchronism with
that ofthe motor. It is characteristic of this form of motor
that it cannot be reversed by reversing the continuous current
through the coil.
The s y n c h r d ofthese motors may be demonstrated
experimentally in a varietyof ways. For this purpose it is best
to employ a motor consistingof a stationary field magnet and
an armature arranged to rotate within the same, as indicated
infigure 13. In this case the shifting of the poles of the
armatureproducesarotation
of the latter in theopposite
direction. It results therefrom that when the normal speed is
reached,thepoles
ofthe armature assume fixed positions
relatively to the field magnet and the same is magnetized by
on each of the pole-pieces.
induction, exhibiting a distinct pole
If a piece of soft iron is approached to the field magnetit will
at the start be attracted with a rapid vibrating motion produced by the reversals of polarity of the magnet, but as the
speed of the armature increases the vibrations become less and
cease. Thenthe iron is
lessfrequentandfinallyentirely
weakly but permanently attracted, showing that the synchronism is reached and the field magnet
energized by induction.
The disc may also be used for the experiment. If held quite
close tothearmature it will turn as long as the speed of
rotation of the poles exceeds that of the armature; but when

TESLA: ALTERNATE CURRENT M O T O R S AND TRANSFORMERS

the normal speed is reached or verynearly so, it ceases to

rotate and is p
e
r
m
a
w
n
@attracted.
A crude but illustrative expexhmt is madewith an incandescent lamp. Placing the lamp in circuit with the continuous current geneator and in series with the magnet coil, rapid
fluctuations are observed in the light in consequence of the
induced currents set up in the coil at the start; the speed
increasin& the fluctuations OCCUT at longer intervals, until they
entirely disappear, showing that the motor has attained its
normal speed.
A telephone receiver affords a most sensitive instrument;

whenconnectedtoanycircuitinthemotorthespkmism
may be easily detected on the disappearance of the induced

currents.
Inmotorsofthesynchrunoustypeitisdesirabktomaintain the quantity of the shifting magnetism constant, especially if the magnets are not properly subdivided.
To obtain a rotary effortin these motors was the subject of
long thought. In order to secure this result it was necessary to
make such a disposition that while the poles of one element of
the motor are shifted by the alternate currents of the source,
the poles produced upon the other elements should always be
maintained in the proper relationto the former, irrespectiveof
the speed of the motor. Such a condition exists in a continuous currentmotor; but in a synchronous motor, such as
described, this condition is Nhned onlywhen the speed is
normal.
The object has been attained by placing within the ring a
properly subdivided cykdrid iron core wound with several
independent coils closed upon themselves. Two coils at right
angles as in figure 14, are sufficient, but a greater numbermay
be advantageously employed. It results from this disposition
that when thepoles of the ring are shifted, currents are
generated in the closed armature coils.These currents are the
most intense at or near the points of the greatest density of
the linesof force, and their effectis to produce polesupon the
armature at right angles to those of the ring, at least theoretically s o ; and since this action is entirely independent of the
speed-that is, as far as the location of the polesis concerned
-a continuouspull is exerted upon theperiphery of the
armature. In many respects these motors are similar to the
continuous current motors. If load is put on, the speed, and
also theresistance of themotor, is diminished and more
current is made to pass through the energizing coils, thus

169

14.

increasingtheeffort.
Upon theload being taken off, the
counter-electromotive force increases and less current passes
through the primary or energizing coils.Without any load the
speed is very nearly equal to that of the shifting poles of the
field magnet.
It will be found that the rotary effort in these motors fully
seems
equals that of the continuous current motors. The effort
tobegreatestwhenbotharmatureandfieldmagnet
are
without any projections; but as in such w s i t i o n s the field
cannot be concentrated,probablythe best results will be
obtained by leaving pole projections on one of the elements
only. Generally,it may be stated that the projections diminish
the torque and produce a tendency to synchronism.
A characteristicfeature of motors of this kind is their
capacity of being very rapidly reversed. ?his follows from the
peculiaraction of themotor.Supposethearmature
to be
be
rotatingandthedirection
of rotation of thepolesto
reversed. The apparatus then represents a dynamo machine,
the power to drive this machine being the momentum stored
up in the armature and its speed bemg the sum of the speeds
of the armature and thepoles.
If we now consider that the power to drive such a dynamo
would be very nearly proportional to the third power of the
speed, for that reason alone the armature should be quickly
reversed But simultaneously with the reversal another element
is brought into action, namely, as the movement of the poles
with respect to the armature is reversed, the motor acts like a
transformer in which the resistance of the secondary circuit
would be abnormally diminkhed by producing in this circuit
an additional electremotive force. Owing to these causes the
reversal is instantaneous.
If it is desirable to secure a constant speed, and at the same
time a certain effort at the start, this result may be easily
attained in a varietyof ways. For instance,two armatures,one
for torque and the other forsynchronism, may be fastened on
the same shaft and any desired preponderance may be given
to either one, or an armaturemay be wound for rotary effort,
but a more or less pronounced tendencyto synchronism may
be given to it by properly constructing the iron core; and in
many other ways.
Asameansofobtainingtherequiredphaseofthecurrents
in both the circuits, the disposition of the two coils at right
augles is the simplest, secufing the most d o r m action; but
the phase may be obtained in many other ways, varying with
the machine employed. Any of the dynamos at present in use

170

may be easily adapted forthispurpose by making connections

toproperpoints of thegenerating coils. In closed circuit
armatures, such as used in the continuous currentsystems, it is
best to make four derivations fromqui-distant points or bars
of the commutator,and to connect the same to four insulated
sliding rings on theshaft. In this case each of themotor
circuits is connectedto two diametrically opposite bars of the
commutator. In such a dqmsition themotormay atso be
operated at half the potential and on the three-wire plan, by
connecting the motor circuits in the proper order to three of
the contact rings.
In multipolar dynamo machines, such as used in the converter systems, the phase is conveniently obtained by winding
upon the armature two series of coils in such a manner that
whilethecoils of oneset or series are at theirmaximum
production of current, the coils of the other will be at their
neutral position, or nearlyso, whereby both sets of coils may
besubjectedsimultaneously or successively to the inducing
action of the field magnets.
Generallythecircuits in themotor will be similarly disposed and various arrangements may
be made to fulfill the
is to
requirements; but thesimplestandmostpracticable
arrangeprimarycircuits on stationary parts of themotor,
thereby obviating,at least in certain forms, the employmentof
sliding contacts.In such a case the magnetcoils are connected
alternately in both the circuits; that is, 1, 3, 5 .........in one, and
2, 4, 6.........in the other, and the
coils of each setof series may
be connected all in the same manner, or alternatelyin opposition; in the latter case a motor with half the number of poles
will result, and its action
will be correspondugly modified.

nu.11.

Fig. 17.

The figures 15, 16, and 17, show three different phases, the
magwtcoilsineachcircuitbeingconnectedaltematelyin

oppositionInthiscasethereWillbeahvaysfourpdes,as

PROCEEDINGS OF THEIEEE, VOC. 72, NO. 2, FEBRUARf 1964

in figures 15 and 17, four pole projectionswill be neutral, and

in figure 16 two adjacent pole projections will have the same
polarity. If the coils are c o ~ e c t e din the same manner there
will be eight alternatingpoles, as indicated by the letters n' s'
in figure 15.
The employment of multipolar motors secures in this system an advantage much desired and unattainable in the continuous currentsystem, and that is, that a motormay be made
to run exactly at a predetermined speed irrespective of imperfections in construction,of the load, and, within
certain limits,
of electromotive force and current strength
In a general distribution system of this kind the following
plan should be adopted. At the central
station of supply a
generator should be provided having a considerable number
of
poles. The motors operated from this generator should be of
the synchronous type, but possessing sufficientrotary effort to
insure their starting. With the observance of proper rules of
construction it may be admitted that the speed of each motor
will be in some inverse proportionto its size, and the number
of poles should be chosenaccordingly. Still exceptional demands maymodify this rule. In viewof this, it will be
advantageous to provide each motor with agreater number of
pole projections orcoils, the numberbemg preferably a multiple of two and three. By this means, by simply changing the
connections of the coils, the motor may be adapted
to any
probable demands.
If the number of the poles in the motor is even, the action
will be harmonious and the proper result will be obtained; if
this is not the case, the best plan to be fobwed is to make a
motor with a double numberof poles and connect the samein
the manner before indicated,so that half the number of poles
result.Suppose, for instance,thatthegeneratorhas
twelve
poles, and it would be desired to obtain a speed equal to 'p of
the speed of the generator. This would require a motor with
seven pole projectionsor magnets, and such a motor couldnot
be properly connected in the circuits unless fourteen armature
coils would be provided, which would necessitate the employment of sliding contacts. To avoid this, the motor should be
provided with fourteen magnets and seven connected in each
circuit, the magnets in each circuit alternating among themselves,The armature should have fourteen closed coils. The
llinot be quite as perfect as in the case
action of the motor w
of an even number of poles, but the drawbackwill not be of a
serious nature.
However, the disadvantages resulting from
this unsymmetrical formwill be reduced inthe same proportion as the number
of the poles is augmented.
If the generator has, say, n, and the motor nl poles, the
speed of themotor will be equal to that of thegenerator
multiplied by n/nl.
The speed of the motor will generally be dependent on the
number of the poles, but there may be exceptions to this rule.
The speed maybe modified by the phaseof the currentsin the
circuits or by the character of the current impulsesor intervals
betweeneach or betweengroups ofimpulses.Someof
the
possible cases are indicated in the diagrams, figures 18,19,20
and 21, which are self-explanatory. Figure 18 represents the
condition generally existing, and which
secures the best result.
In such a case, if the typical formof motor illustratedin figure
9 is employed, one complete wavein each circuitwill produce
one revolution of the motor. In figure 19 the same result will

TESLA: ALTERNATE CURRENT MOTORS AND TRANSFORMERS

-be effected by one wave

in each circuit, the impulses being

successive; in figure 20 by four, and in figure 21 byeight
waves.
By such means any desired speed may be attained; that is,
at least within the limits of practical demands. This system
possesses this advantage besides others, resulting from simplicity. At full loads the motorsshow an efficiency fully equal
to that of the continuous current motors. The transformers
present an additional advantage in their capability of operatare capable of similar modifications in
ingmotors.They
construction, andwill facilitate the introductionof motors and
their adaptation to practical demands. Theirefficiency should
be higher than that of the present transformers,and I base my
assertion on the following:In a transformer as constructed at present we produce the
currents in thesecondary circuit by varying the strengthof the
primary or exciting currents.If we admit proportionality with
respect to the iron core the inductive effect exerted upon the
secondary coil will be proportional to the numerical sum of
the variations in the strength of the exciting current per unit
oftime;whence
it follows thatfora
given variationany
prolongation of the primary current will result in a proportional loss. In order to obtain rapid variations in the strength
of the current, essential to efficient induction, a great number
of undulations are employed, fromthis practice variousdisadvantages result. These are increased cost and diminished efficiency of the generator,more waste of energy in heating the
cores, andalso diminished output of the transformer,since the
core is not properly utilized, the reversals being too rapid. The
inductive effect is also very small in certain phases, as will be
apparent from agraphicrepresentation,andthere
may be
periods of inaction, if there are intervalsbetween the succeeding current impulses or waves. In producing a shifting of the
poles in atransformer,andtherebyincludingcurrents,the
induction is of the ideal character,being always maintained at
its maximum action. It is also reasonable to assume that by a

171

shifting of the poleslessenergy

reversals.

will be wasted than by

DISCUSSION.
MR. T. C. MARTIN:-Prof. Anthony I believe, is here, and
as he has given this subject some attention I think he might
veryproperlysupplement Mr. Tesla's paperwith some remarks.

MR. -:--I
want to express once more my best thanks
to Prof. Anthony for aiding me in many respects,and I hope
he will be able to enlighten you upon many of the features in
this system that I was unable to explain at present.
PROF. w.k ANTIONY:-Mr. President and Gentlemen: 1
have been referredto as having had something to do with
these forms of motor. I am very glad to be able to add my
testimony to what Mr. Tesla has already given you in regard
to their action, and I confess that on first seeing the motors
the actionseemed to me an exceedingly remarkable one. After
my first visit to Mr. Tesla's works some of the motors, IXhink
these very two that you see here on the table, were broughtto
me to make some tests of their efficiency, and probably you
will be more interestedin that than anydung else that I might
say. I am sorry to have not brought withme the exact figures
we obtained, but I can give you from memory somethmg of
the result. This little motor that you see here gave us about
half a horse power, and had an efficiency of something above
fifty per cent, which I considered a very fair efficiency for a
motor of this size, as we cannot expect withsuch small motors
to get as high efficiency as we can with larger ones. This I
believe is the armature that Mr. Tesla calls the armature for
high rotary effort. This little pulley which is only about three
inches in diameter gave a pull of somethmg like fifty pounds,
as I remember it, on turning on the current, so that you see
the rotary effortis very considerable and that is also shown in
the quickness with which the armature will reverse its motion
on reversingtherelation
of the two currents which pass
through the two opposite coils.That could be done by shifting
two of the wires or simply shifting a reversing key in one of
the circuits, and the armature would stop and reverse its
motion so quickly that it was almost impossible to tell when
the change took place. That shows, as I have said, the very
considerable rotary effort that the armature presents.
This motor (referring to the second specimen) gave us, I
think,about one and onequarter horse power and showed a
somewhat w e r efficiency than the other, a little over sixty
per cent. This would run, with the armature as here constructed, almost at the speed of the generator even under a
very heavy load. When the load was brought up to the
maximum load, where the efficiency began to fall off somewhat, the speed of rotation was reduced. As I remember now,
it was reduced to about twentyeight hundred, and the speed,
you see, kept up very nearly to that of the generator under
heavy load.
I can add very little to what Mr.Tesla has already given you
in regard to these motors. I have no question but that all of
youwouldbeasmmachin~tedasIwasinscdngthemwork.
Thatisrrally~bestwayinwhichtodetermiwwhatthe
motors will do. (Applause.)

172

MR. -:-Mr.
President and Gentlemen: Prof. Anthony
just made the remark that the speed of this motor fell off
when the load was inmased. That was due to the fact that
this armature wasdesigned to secure a d d e r a b l e effort
fromthe start. But if we make an armature which is only
designed for synchronism, the speed will always be the same
no matter what the load; d y there is a disadvantage that at
the outset the rotary effort
is so small that it is apt not to start.
It would generally start if put in a proper position, but if not
put in a proper position it might not start. If we employ an
armature consisting of a cutaway block of steel with a coil, it
will maintain speed at all loads. The importance of maintaining the intensity of the pole constant is that, if this can be
produced, we can utilize, instead of the subdivided armature,
an ordinary steelblock with the same result. It is only desired
to close the magnetic field. You can readily see, if the poles
are fixed,that it is not necessary to subdivide the armature,if
the intensity of the force is constantly maintained the same.
But, if the intensity is not maintainedthe same, then it is
necessary to subdivide, and generallyin the results that I have
obtained I havefound that it is necessary tosubdivide. I
attribute the good results obtained by the tests of Professor
Anthony to thefact that thedynamo used by him hasa
is very
powerfulfieldandasmallarmature,andthefield
is
concentrated, and for that reason, probably,theresult
nearer the theoretical.
PROF. THOWN:--I have certainly been very much interested in the description given by Mr. Tesla of his new and
admirable little motor. I have, as probably you may be aware,
worked in somewhat similar directions and towards the
attainment of similar ends. 'Ihe trials which I have made have been
by the use of a angle alternating current circuit,not a double
alternatingcircuit;a slnglecircuitsupplyingamotor
constructed to utilize the alternation and produce rotation. I have
carried on since the last annual meetingof the Institute the
development and perfecting, as far as my time allowed, of a
closed circuit armature, if wemay so term it, related to the
alternating field. That is the plan which I used and which I
brought to the notice of the Institute last year; it was to make
a laminated field and in that field to place an armature, also
laminated, wn
i- upon the armature a coil, which periodically is close-circuitedduring the revolutionbyasuitable
commutator or circuit-closing device.I have made several such
motors on different designs and they uniformly start from a
state of rest and develop power, and someof them show, at
speeds close totherate
of alternations of thedynamo,a
tendency to synchronize. 'Iheir rotary effortin most cases is a
little greater,near that pointthan at other points. I hope
before a long while to bring most of these results before the
notice of the Institute, and I would therefore prefer delaying
further remarks on motors of this description. I certainly think
there is a field for alternating motors, and there is undoubtedly an opportunity for obtaining motors which possess
even some advantagesoverthe continuous current motors.
(APPlause.)
MR. TEsu:-Gentlemen, I wish to say that the testimony
ofsuchamanasProf.Thomson,asbeingforemostinhis
profession,flatters me very much. I mightsay that I have
workedinthesamelinewithProf.Thomsonataperiodwhen
the invention of Prof. Thornson was not known to me. I had a
motor identically the same as that of Prof. 'Ihoolson, but I

PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE, VOC. 72, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1964

was anticipated by him. I believe that although that particular

form of motor has the disadvantage that a pair of brushes
must be employed to short-circuit the armaturecoil, that such
aform of motormay be madepracticable, for the simple
reasonthatamotorresemblesatransformer,andsuch
a
transformer, wewellknow, can be brought to a very high
efficiency. On the other hand, the armature may be provided
with conductors that are of comparatively low resistance, and

TESLA: ALTERNATE CURRENT M O T O R S A N DTRANSFORMERS

it is a mere matter of making a perfect arrangement for short

circuiting. Youwill see the advantageof this disposition of the
closedcircuitcoil-that
this action is maintained always at
themaximum,and
it is indeedmoreperfect
than if the
polarities were shifted by means of a commutator.
THEChnuaN:-Unless there are some other remarks on
this subject we shall have to pass to the consideration of the
next paper. I think thanks are due to Mr. Tesla for his paper.

1 73