The Washington times., 1922-08-14
Questions and Answers
Electric Editor; What makes
an electric device burn outT

Electric Editor: What makes
an electric device burn out3
l.. N. o.
Several things may cause an ap-
pliance to burn out. II may be
Of a lower voltage than the light.
ing circuit to which II is con,
nected, there may be a defect in
the wire which forms the heating
element: the heating element may
have been damaged by accident;
there may be a short circuit In
ment is old II may become weak
by oxidization.
To prevent burn-outs due to
wrong voltage, always examine
the manufacturers name plate on
the appliance and be sure that
the voltage agrees with the line
voltage. IL you do not know the
line voltage unscrew a bulb and
look at the label on It's base.
Burn-outs due to defects and
oxidization cannot be prevented.
The real cause behind such burn.
outs Is this: The defect makes
the cross.section OF the wire slight.
ly smaller at the defective point
than II is elsewhere In the ele.
ment, and this reduction In dia.
meter. even though It be very
slight, is enough to cause the wire
to heat to a higher temperature
at that point than elsewhere, This
finally results In the wire at that
point being destroyed.
Short circuits in open element
appliances such as coasters or
kg
OF metal getting across two wires.
The electric current always follows
the easiest route. and when a short
circuit 10 formed by a piece OF
metal having less resistance to the
current than the wire OF the heat.
ing element. the current follows
that route. The result is that the
part Of the heating element which
remains reaches q very much higher
temperature than Il was intended
to stand. and tas In appliances of
low voltageD the turnout follows
quickly.
Electrical Editor: What Ia the
temperature Of the electric arc2
Someone tried TO tell me its TEN.
perature In higher than that at
which platinum nelts, Can you
give me these two temperatures?
DOUBTFUL.
Someone was quite right Plat.
mum becomes ID at 3.os0 de.
grees Fahrenheu u.I7o degrees
Centigrade,. while the temperature
OF the electric arc In the highest
on the heat Thermometer. s,330
degrees =. 0.SOo degrees c..
Electrical Editor: am going
to buy an electric washing ma.
chine and am trying to find one
that will heat the water in the
tub, thus saving me the trouble
OF heating the water and pour.
ing II into the tank. Are there
any such machines on the mar.
ket? II. r. G.
Yes, number OF washers are
provided with attachments for keep.
ing the water hot with gas. Send
stamped self addressed envelope
and we will be glad to give you
the names OF such machines.
Electrical Editor: Can run
wire from my house to the
garage without calling in an elec.
trician? ] have the necessary
wire and switch. ]. J. J.
The District regulations provide
that a written permit must first
he obtained from he electrical de
partment. You CSn run the wire
and do the work. out the current
cannot be turned on until you
have notified the electrical depart.
ment and final inspection has been
U.ade and written permission given
to use the current. Care must
| he also taken not TO cover the
wiring until the final inspection IL
made and approval is obtained.
Electrical Editor: What Is the
electric switch called which Ia
usually located in the downstairs
hall AMI by means OF which the
porch light and the light in the
! hall upstairs as we'll as that In
the lower TALL are turned on and
off? on which side Of the door
should II he located? II. +. S.
The switch used to control lights
from two different points is called
three.way swithch. The loca.
ton Of switches depends entirely
upon convenience AS n rule. they
should be located just inside the
door and at the same side as the
door knob. We frequently see
switches installed in such a manner
that the door swings open and
hides them. This should always
be- avoided.