The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-06-05

the aid of the generator, but usually
power is wanted only during the day
when the engine and generator would
be running and the battery itself be
charged for service during the eve.
ming. Under these conditions the bat
terry need not be larger than is neces.
sary 10 operate about One-fourth OF
the total number Of lights installed.
and the cost of the equipment will be
reduced in proportion. However,
when the generator is to be used for
lighting only, it is not best 10 get too
small a machine, as there is likely to
be more trouble in its operation than
if it is larger. A machine of less than
one kiloWatt capacity is likely TO give
more trouble in this respect than one
larger. Another point to be considered
is the voltage &c be used. 1t is not
advisable to use a voltage of less than
fifty or tifty-ive even for lighting alone,
and where motors are TO be used or
where the distances to which the cur
rent is to be carried amount to several
hundred feet, a voltage of 100 or 10
IS advised, as with the lower y~Oltagcs
the current is larger for equal amounts
Of power and the line losses Increase
very rapidly with increases in current.
In addition to these losses, which are
larger at low vOltages than at high, the
regulation of the system is much poor.
or at low voltages. This means that
! he V4Ciotinn i'm tho hriCbt ,Dar If tho
light is likely to be greater with the
low voltage systems and the lisht not
nearly as satisfactory.
Now as to the cost. This will vary
somewhat with the kind and grade Of
the equipment. An installation large
enough for The needs Of almost anv
farm home as far as lighting is con
cerned, a be purchased for not TO
exceed $500. and the smaller equip.
ment will be less than this When t
house lighting is supplied by central
stations the average yearly bill
amounts from $50 to $35, It will be seen
that the interest on an investment Of
$500 is not greater than the amount
paid by the city dWeller for his light,
and it is a sum not much greater than
is paid out by the farmer for oil lamps
and kerosene which gives him a dual.
ity Of light that is not comparable
with that Of electricity.
The cost of a generator, storage bat
terry. and switch board, will not vary
greatly from the figures which follow.
A description and approximate cost Of
wiring is also given.
Generators of from one and one
half TO three and one-half X. w. 100
to $500 watts capacity can be pur-
chased for from $75 TO 1925. A switch
board completely equipped with in
struments, switches. rheostat. and bat
terry cut-Out will cost from SIS to 500
more. A good storage battery Of TWEEN
ty-tive cells, having a capacity of fifty
ampere hours, should cost about 1925.
Prices will OF course vary, and the best
grade of switch boards and switch
board Instruments will cost somewhat
more than the price mentioned.
The cost Of wiring the buildings will
vary with the kind Of wiring done and
the system used. Open or exposed
wiring is the cheapest. The labor cost
is least. and weather proof" wire NAV
be used. For concealed work. I'm which
the wires are laid between floors and
are prevented from coming into con
tact with any wood or other material
by means of porcelain tubes and knobs.
the wire used is known as rubber GOV.
cred, and this covering has much bet
ter insulating properties than the
Weather-prOo' va'ictv. More labor is
required TO install this kind Of wiring
ard the Wire is more expensive but
makes a better and neater Job. as the
wire is al out Of sight except the cell
ing rOsette and the lamp cord 10 which
is attached the socket and lamp.
Conduit wiring is the most expensive
to install, but has the advantage OF
being the safest and most durable
Metallic conduit is most commonly
used, and in house wiring is usually
concealed within the walls, being led
to outlet boxes or conduits where
lamps are 10 be connected and switch,
es attached.
Conduit wiring for barns and other
buildings In which the wiring must be
exposed is very much better and safer
than knob and tube work, as the open
wiring is sure to come in contact al
places with hay and other dusty, in
famable material. in which case the
conduit is an absolute protection.
The cost of wiring complete, includ
ing labor, material. lamps. etc, every
thing ready for use, will vary from 81
TO Sc for. each lamp installed, depend
Ing on the kind of wiring done. The
wiring must be done by one who under
stan3s the work, and for all voltages
above thirty volts. the "fre under
writer's" rules should be- strictly OBJ
served az the fire rick Is serious II
! cases OF defective work