Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-05
WIRING FOR LAMPS.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS IN THE HOUSE
NOT AT ALL DANGEROUS.


NOT AT ALL DANGEROUS.
Great Care, However, Should BE Exercised
When the Wires Are Strung Throughout
the Different Rooms of a Dwelling.
Lightning Arresters.
When wires are properly erected, the
safety devices adequate and the insulation
perfect, incandescent electric light wires
are no more a menace than gas or water
pipes. A proof of this lies in the fact that
their use calls for no increased insurance
rates and in some instances tends to a re-
duction.
The question as to how houses should be
wired so as to give most satisfaction is an
all important one just now both to archi-
electricity in their homes. The answer to
the question will mainly depend on just
what the owners desires may be- Some
principles are applicable in all cases.
Recent discussions and experiments tend
to show, if the cost does not prove prohibit
tive, that each and every outlet in a room
should be carried direct to the center of dis
tribution or, in other words, that each cir
cult in the building should have but one
outlet in any apartment. BY pursuing
such a method one will be in n position to
take advantage of any new improvements
or radical changes which may occur in the
future methods of electric lighting. 1t is
perhaps desirable that such circuits should
ordinarily consist of wire not smaller than
No ,12 gage, while in the case of very
largo:mansions several stories in height
and covering a large area perhaps No 10
or in extreme cases possibly No. 8
gage might on some few circuits prove
desirable. Such construction would of
course very materially enhance the cost of
the installation, but it would not in many
instances prove prohibitive.
If q division of the question must be
made, then the next best move would be to
have all chandelier outlets on a separate
circuit and group the bracket lights on sep
arate circuits, as it is at present done. BY
having the chandelier outlets on a separate
circuit, one of the petite and ornate small
candle power arc lamps could be employed
In the reception hall, parlor and dining
room. The small arc lamp is of nominal
40O-candle power and consumes current
equal to from four to six 16-candle power
50Avolt lamps. So it is obvious that as soon
as some few details of construction of the
lamps are improved upon arc lamps of
small candle power are, for economic rea-
sons, likely to be quite generally employed
At the national electric light convention
held in this city perfect gems of arc lamps
were displayed. They We're all, however
designed to burn on the direct current sys-
tenn, while the alternating current is the
system employed exclusively in St. Louis.
The chandelier outlets should always be con-
trolled by a switch and the lights iNthe re-
ception hall, at least, so wired up that they
can be controlled from two or more points.
When lights are placed in the cellar, it is
desirable to have one or more of them con
trolled by n switch placed at the head o.
the cellar stairs and a like arrangement for
the attic lights, the switch to be located at
the most convenient point.
In the rear hall, bathroom, cellar and
like apartments lamps Of 10-candle power
will afford ample illumination and result
in quite n marked saving.
In the east more than in the west, dec
orative effects in small candle power lamps
are growing in favor, and when the lamps
are arranged artistically, with picturesque
effects, the result is pleasing in the ex-
treme.
A growing feature IN the employment of
the electric current for household purposes
is the introduction of culinary devices and
household utensils which can be heated by
the electric current. To maintain them in
constant service would involve great eX
pense, but the advantage of being able to
employ them in cases of emergency makes
them worthy of interest and consideration.
For instance, no one would think of heat
ing natirons, curling irons, chatting dishes
in the year. But occasions often arise
when it would be very convenient to be
able to heat them without building n coal
fire.
Nervous people are frequently more
alarmed than is justifiable at the possibility
not probability-of lightning discharges
entering their residences through the path
afforded by their electric light wires
When arresters are insisted upon, one
should be provided for each leg of the cir
cult, and preferably they should be located
on exterior walls. a speaker at the con-
vention discussed this phase of house il
Illumination very intelligently. He said:
The main wire should lead to a good
ground in as straight a path and with as
few crooks and turns as possible, as every
bend offers n source of self induction detri-
mental to the flow of lightning discharge
The source of ground cannot be too perfect.
Have several of them radiating off to diff
ferent points, to a mass of metal in a well
or soldered to a water main, SO should one
fail the other may be relied upon. The
lightning arrester itself should be an in
strument devoid of fuses, be capable of rup-
turing instantly the arc formed and still
set for a second discharge; should
be free from all moving parts, not absorb
energy and should be so reliable and sub
stantial that it could be set up anywhere
and forgotten and still perform its duty.
No matter how perfect the arrester is, it is
valueless unless it has good ground con-
nection and a straight copper wire without
bends or turns connecting the two.
"A good way to make a reliable earth
is to drive a 12-foot iron pipe
into the earth, to which is soldered No.
wire. The pipe should be driven under
the ground aI.d covered with cake.
Another desirable feature is to have a
proper switch within, and at the point
where the wires enter the building, for
which service preference should be given to