The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-08-12
Continued from front page)
Q TY co q n OF L n e N
VISIT AMI RICAN IA LIS
transformers, and LIGHTNING arrester.

transformers, and lightning arresters
are located on balcony some twenty
five feet above the main floor.
The present equipment consists Of
single $3.50 kilowatt 5000 horsepower
generator mounted on the same shaft
with water wheel or turbine of suffi
Gent capacity to run it at considerable
overload. An auxiliary generator
known as an EXETER, whose function
is to magnetic the revolving !" field"
magnets, is mounted on the shaft of
the main generator. AS reserve, there
| is also an EXETER which is driven by an
electric motor.
| On the second floor or balcony there
are three 1850 kilowatt transformers
which ''step up" the electrical pres
| sure or voltage from 1900 volts, at
which it is generated to approximately
$4,000 volts, at which pressure it is
transmitted to Pocatello, Fort Hall, and
Blackfoot, where it is reduced again to
1900 volts for distribution. There is
also fourth transformer of equal
capacity which can be connected in case
one transformer is injured.
Lightning protection is afforded by
the latest known type of lightning ar
rosters, known as electr0litic.
| All switches used for connecting and
disconnecting the various parts of the
| system are operated by electricity. The
operation of the entire plant is con-
trolled from the switchboard on the
balcony. This switchboard is known
as the remote control bench board type.
1t much resembles sloping desk with
vertical panel extending above the
back. On this vertical panel are To-
Gated the various instruments which in
dictate the voltage, speed, amount of
power being generated, etc. On the
desk part are mounted a number of
buttons and levers by means of which
the operator can control the entire
workings of the plant. Without leav-
ing his seat, he can do any of the fol
lowing operations: Raise or lower the
head gate, start, stop, or vary the speed
of the water wheel, start or stop the
auxiliary exeter. Connect or discon-
meet the generator to or from the trans
formers, connect or discOnnect the
transformers to or from the transmits
sion line, and raise or lower the voltage.
One Of the most interesting pieces
of apparatus in the Thrill automatic
regulator, which automatically keeps
the voltage constant at the switchboard.
We're it not for this apparatus, any
fluctuation inthe load, such as throw
ing on or off large motor, would
cause fluctuation in voltage which
would be manifested by the blinking Of
the lights. To take care of this, an
operator would have to be constantly
in attendance with his eye on the in
struments and his hand on the regulator
With an operator in constant at
tendance, it would be difficult to pre-
vent occasional blinking of the lights
as it takes an appreciable length of
time for an impression to 20 from the
eye to the brain and from the brain to
the hand. The automatic regulator is
quicker and more sensitive than the
human brain and is on the job day and
night with no attention other than oc-
casional inspection and adjustment.
The generator was furnishing about
two-fifths of the power it is capable
of supplying when the plant was visited.
At present, practically all the power is
supplied from the new plant, the old
plants, being held in reserve, are only
used when it is necessary to make re-
pairs on the new one.
The Southern Idaho Water Power
Co., which succeeded the Brady interests
in 1912, is now supplying power to Po-
catello, Blackfoot, American Falls, and
Fort Hall. Plans are being prepared
for extending their service from Ameri-
can Falls to Aberdeen, and from Black
foot to Rockford, taking in the villages
on the west side of the river, within the
next six or eight months.
We believe that each and every coun-
Gilman was convinced that the company
has ample ability to supply the whole
southeastern part of the state with all
the power, light and heat it is likely to
ever need, il as much as it is absolutely
apparent that only a small fraction of
the water power is being used, and only
a portion of the capacity of the present
machinery, with worlds of room to put
in additional generators.