Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-17
Electric Liahtina for Automobiles.

Almost with the beginning of the auto
mobile industry the great need of electric
lights for the cars was recognized. Ex-
periments were made but it was not nu-
til the advent OF the new metal hlamene
incandescent lamps that the plan was al
all feasible motor ear requires at least
five lamps, aggregating rs candle-power.
With the old carbon filament lamps, con-
summing 3.5 watts of electricity per candle
the size and weight of the battery for
supplying the necessary current were
prohibitory. Consequently, gas and oil
lamps have been, until recently. the only
source of light available.
The new metal ilament incandescent
lamp of small size and low voltage salts
fies to the highest degree the persistent
demand for a safe, reliable and con-
venent system of motor-car lighting.
Those lamps of low voltage suitable for
this purpose consume only l watt per
candle, and bring electric lighting within
reach of all motor-car owners.
Tho ideal lamp outfit for this purpose
consists of two headlights Of 20 candle
power each. two side lamps of or
candle-power each and one tail lamp OF
candle power. CONSUMING IS TO 50 watts
a 100 ampere-hour volt battery which
will operate all the lamps continuously
for i2 hours without recharging. Such a
battery weighs about IS pounds. but since
II can also be used for engine ignition it
will replace an equal weight now repre-
scented by tho ordinary ignition battery
which weighs 25 pounds and gas tank
weighing 50 pounds.
In many OF the 1912 model cars the en-
ergy for the lamps is supplied by small
dynamo. This leaves the owner a choice
of equipping his car with a battery or
with a small dynamo. The former Is OBJ
yiousy the cheaper way but the latter
completely removes the necessity of re.
charging the battery.
A battery outfit. including switch.
lamps, wire and cost for wiring the car.
amounts to about 5000, IL Is very easily
installed. The battery is designed to bo
carried on the running board.
In the dynamo lighting system. the dy.
namo and battery are used together. cur
rent for tho lights being taken direct
from the dynamo when the car is rum
ming, in some cases, in others the dy-
namo being used simply to charge tho
battery. The other system, known as the
straight storage, (hattcry) system. con-
ssts of a high capacity battery used
alone. it furnishing all the current rec
aulred and having its charge renewed
from some outside source, as at garage
or central station.
In the early stages attempts were made
90 operate lights from ordinary ignition
batteries, which was soon found to bs
impracticabIe, as this type of battery
could not deliver the amount of current
required, resulting in poor lights and in.
Jury to the battery.
The dynamo lighting system has the
advantage that it is not necessary to
remove the battery from the car for re-
charging. and with this type of machine
in it's present effective stage the dynamo
lighting system will surely come into gem
eral use especially on high-Niced cara.
The new metal fliament aute-fAmps
give fine. clear. penetrating light
which does not flicker or blacken the
refiectors and lenses.