Thread

1. jakedata · 1790586198 · focus · HN ↗

   I read about Solid State Transformers <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.powermag.com&#x2F;the-solid-state-shift-reinventing-the-transformer-for-modern-grids&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.powermag.com&#x2F;the-solid-state-shift-reinventing-t... with some interest. However they have some weird failure modes. At least large chunks of metal twisted around large chunks of a different metal are predictable and don&#x27;t need firmware updates.

   <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu&#x2F;II_16.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu&#x2F;II_16.html

   1. ahartmetz · 1790586892 · focus · HN ↗

      Solid state transformers are a misnomer: Traditional transformers are already solid state - no moving parts. And SSTs do the actual voltage &#x2F; current transformation using a smaller, higher frequency traditional transformer. A more appropriate name for SSTs would be high frequency transformers or IF (intermediate frequency) transformers or something.

      1. ButlerianJihad · 1790597442 · focus · HN ↗

         Ironically, &quot;solid-state drive&quot; was also misleading, because &quot;solid-state&quot; was an industry marketing term to differentiate anything using exclusively semiconductors from any older technologies, such as vacuum tubes. So a standard HDD, based entirely on semiconductors and not vacuum tubes, would indeed be &quot;solid-state&quot; by those standards, but I for one understood a &quot;solid-state drive&quot; to be differentiated by no moving parts. Vacuum tubes did not, per se, move a lot. Not like an HDD platter or head.

         <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Solid-state_electronics" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Solid-state_electronics

         Also regarding child comment, how did we already get to slurs for those with developmental disabilities? Can we avoid those, please?

         1. ahartmetz · 1790602410 · focus · HN ↗

            So solid-state effectively means semiconductor based, but also not based on things that aren&#x27;t semiconductors, depending on context...

            Solid-state drives do indeed not contain non-solid-state critical parts, but solid-state transformers do.

            1. quickthrowman · 1790619747 · focus · HN ↗

               Yes, a solid-state motor starter uses semiconductors (thyristors) to switch the line voltage power instead of using (an) electromagnetic contactor(s): <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eaton.com&#x2F;content&#x2F;dam&#x2F;eaton&#x2F;products&#x2F;industrialcontrols-drives-automation-sensors&#x2F;legacy-page---soft-starters&#x2F;solid-state-soft-start-motor-controller-and-starter-ap03902001e.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eaton.com&#x2F;content&#x2F;dam&#x2F;eaton&#x2F;products&#x2F;industrialc...
         2. jakedata · 1790613538 · focus · HN ↗

            I assumed it was a typo and they were actually referring to &quot;cretons&quot;, a type of French-Canadian potted pork.

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