ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades U.K. Residential service entrance

Paul,

Electricity first appeared in Dublin and Cork around 1903 on a commercial scale generated by the respective City Corporations. I don't think it was necessarily built to UK "standards" (which were non-exsistant at the time). As far as I'm aware one of the cities used an edison DC system in the early days.

By 1925 Siemens (or Siemens-Schuckertwerke of Berlin) was heavily involved, the national grid began to be created along with the Shannon hydro electric scheme, actually listed as one of the world's engineering milestones / landmarks ..

So I'd say there was a fairly strong Siemens influence... although it could equally have been Edison / GE etc.. It was all down to cost and selection of a system as opposed to any political motivation.

Siemens offered a sollution at the right price. The UK system was also very poorly standardised with umpteen different voltages, distribution systems etc etc..

ESB was established in 1927 and remains in pretty much the same form in 2003.

http://www.siemens.ie/news/achievement.htm

Original 1925 logo :





Here's the national grid in 1930:



Very pretty for a power station: (Front view)


Full details of the entire project from the IEEE:
http://www.ieee.org/organizations/history_center/milestones_photos/shannon.html


Note the siemens nameplates in the turbine hall! (good ole 1927-30 technology still generating 86MW of eco friendly hydro power today!!!!)



[This message has been edited by djk (edited 07-22-2003).]