Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-05-14
ELECTRICITY ACETYLENE
CONCERNING TWO ILLUMINAT-
ING SYSTEMS
A Comparison Which Clearly Shows
the Superiority of Electricity
Over Acetylene

A Comparison Which Clearly Shows
the Superiority of Electricity
Over Acetylene
For the man who must make his
own light and who wants better light
than that of burning lamps, there are
only two real alternatives-elec
or acetylene. Taking the average man
who wishes to light medium sized
house usually with one or more out
buildings. barn, granary, garage or
the like there are number of things
to be taken into consideration: First
cost, running cost, attention required
convenience, safety, other uses than
lighting. An aeetylene generator is
comparatively inexpensive to con-
strucr and the acety lene plant COM
plete with pipe and fixtures is consid-
cradle less expensive in any size, than
the electric plant that would be in
stalled for same amount of lighting.
If all lighting Installations We're made
simply on the basis of first cost, there
would be no electric light plants in
stalled.
Under the heading" Quality of Light"
we shall explain why it is that acety-
lene and electric lights cannot be fair
ly compared on a basis of their candle
power rating and that a Is candle
power tungsten lamp is at least equal,
in the useful light that IS gives under
average conditions, to an acetylene
burner rated at 25 candle power, but
also 16 candle power actual, acetylene
burner.
Acetylene is generated by action of
water on calcium carbide, and cost of
carbide is the principal item of run
ming expense. Carbide costs in neigh
hood of cents a pound and it is
claimed that cubic feet of acetylene
is produced from each pound of car
bide. There is. however. consider
able waste of acetylene i'm charging
the generator, and further waste due
to deterioration of carbide, and incom-
plete utilization of carbide in the gen
orator. A conservative figure for the
waste is ID %. which means IA cubic
feet of acetylene delivered TO the burn
er per pound of carbide used and
cost of per cubic foot of acetylene of
cent. The % candle power rated
(16 candle power actual) acetylene
burner uses Y cubic foot of acetylene
per hour making the cost per burner
hour for carbide 19 cent or S. for 900
lamp hours or 10000 actual candle
power hours.
Turning to the electric plant, the
fuel is kerosene used to run the en-
CINE and costing as an average figur-
ed comparable to the cent cost we
have assumed for carbide, about Is
cents to gallon. Before going any
further we must make some assump-
ton as to the type of electrical plant
used and will base our figures on low
voltage (32 voltsl 16 cell storage bat
terry. A most liberal allowance for
these will not run our running cost up
to more than 5 cents per kilowatt hour
Now let us translate this into cost of
1,0O0-i6 candle power lamp hours for
comparison with acetylene plant. The
16 candle power tungsten lamp uses 20
watt hours per hour, or 30 lamp hours
per kilowatt hour, or 20Klowatt hours
for 1000 lamp hours at 81 eents, this
gives US $l.00 as the running cost of
900 electric lamp hours as compared
with So in the case of aeetylene
Since the average purchaser of a small
lighting plant must figure on using
from / 900 to 1000 lamp hours per
month, this difference in running cost
will naturally deserve serious thought
Attention Required
A so light plant requires so pounds
of carbide and so gallons (400 pounds)
of water. Before changing, 80 gal
Ions (400 pounds) of water or resi-
dunn must be disposed Of The waste
is a milky solution of most disa-
greeable and prevailing odOr, messy
and mean to handle.
70 ha nfrxa
freezing up in the winter is another
problem. Few people care to have the
genertor installed in the house or in
any building containing a stove or
furnace.
Moisture carried into the pipes is
also frequent source of treble.
As to an electric plant, charging
the storage batteries takes the place
of charging the acetylene generator.
To charge the storage batteries, pour
kerosene in fuel tank, cylinder oil in
engine tank, start plant and when
batteries are charged engine stops.
Convenience
We'suppose volume could be writ
ten on the superior convenience of
electric lights over acetylene or any
other kind of illuminant. The farmer
lights the way before him to the cellar,
garnet, barn, by a switch controlling
the distant lights. Then there is the
freedom from odor, from heat and
from soil of ceilings, wall paper and
furnishings generally Electric fix
lures themselves can be changed very
readily or extra lights for temporary
or permanent use quickly installed
An extension cord permits the lamp
to be moved about the room.
Safety
Here we are treadng on delicate
ground Acetylene gas is formed by
the action of water on calcium carbide
1t is true that modern apparatus well
made, properly installed and cared for
by one who appreciates the danger
and viii not be tempted into taking
chance" minimizes the chance Of
disaster But the danger is there just
the same Every time the generator
is opened for charging, considerable
quantity of acetylene necessarily es-
capes. There is also danger of leaky
pipe fixtures or a burner turned on and
not lighted.
As regards the electric plant, there
is only one hazard-that Of fire due
to faulty installation. Now days, and
assuming the wiring to be honestly
done. the electri" installation is con
ceded to involve less FIRE hazard than
any other kind Of lighting system.
Electric power is almost as great
boon to the house wife as electric
lights.
Conclusion
Comparing acetylene with electri-
city from the stand point of first cost,
running cost, operating care, eonven-