Telluride experiment at 50,000 volts

Crank Shafts

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-- It is a fact not generally known that a transmission at 50,000 volts was some time ago tried for a period of two weeks from the water power plant at Telluride, Col., to the Gold King Stamping Mills there. The Telluride transmission is well known as one of the earliest in this country. The first plant consisted of a single phase 3,000 volt alternator with direct transmission to a synchronous motor three miles away. This has since been replaced by a three-phase transmission with step-up and step-down transformers. It was about the time the change was made that the experiment was tried of transmitting at 50,000 volts three-phase alternating current. The transformers used were those now employed on the three-phase transmission there, said transformers being arranged to give a number of different voltages from 50,000 down according to the way they are connected. As said before, this transmission at 50,000 volts three-phase current was kept in service for about two weeks and no accidents occurred during the time. The line consisted of galvanized iron telegraph wires supported on glass insulators. It was found that the self-induction afforded by the iron wire had a beneficial effect in counteracting the capacity of the line. The experiment was not continued for a longer time because a rainy season came on and proper provisions against lightning were not at hand. The transmission line is three miles long and runs up a steep mountain side and over a very wild country.

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