From tiny hysteresis motors that drive electric clocks to huge synchronous motors that develop more than 50,000 hp, the alternating current (AC) motor has become an indispensable part of everyday life ...

In the simplest of terms, an AC generator supplies power directly to a 120-volt circuit to run AC accessories throughout a boat, as well as charge the boat’s batteries (through an AC-to-­DC charger).

It hasn’t been that long since humans figured out how to create power grids that integrated multiple generators and consumers. Ever since AC won the battle of the currents, grid operators have had to ...