The Washington times., 1922-09-25
0ueStions-AnSWers

QueStionS-AnSWers
Electric Editor: In leaving the
city for a few weeks and closing my
home, should have the electric
meter turned off to save current?
NJ. l.. X.
A. II you are away for any con-
siderable period IL might be well TO
have the meter disconnected, or the
main switchj Of your house opened,
but this would only be TO prevent
use of current by unauthorized per-
sons. The fact that the meter is
connected and ready for service does
not mean that any current is regis
tered. The only way an electric
meter can register current is by
turning on Of light or APP
pliances, or by there being a leak
in the circuit. People who claim
that their meter runs when they are
away from home find. by invcstiga-
ton. either that a light has been
left burning or that they mad not
been billed before leaving holne for
all the current consumed UP - day
of leaving. We hold no brief for
any electric light company, but, on
the other hand, We have seen results
OF many thousands of Investigations
made by public utility boards and
other authorities acting in behalf Of
electric light users in controversy
with the electric light companies,
and the results of these Eivestiga.
tions make it very plain that the
company seldom Ean be charged
with billing for current which is not
actually used and registered on the
meter. The best way 10Y anyone
leaving their home for any consid.
cradle period is to read the meter
on the date of departure aid again
on the date of their return. Such 4
record is invaluable in any contro-
versy with the electric company.
Electrical Editor; Every time l
use my electric washer something
seems to happen to the current and
l am left high and dry with the
washing half finished. The elec.
trician tells me that / have blown
a fuse. How can 1 prevent this?
X. c. l..
A. Very frequently we find that
fuses are blown because the person
using the machine feeds clothes too
fast into the wringer. This over
loads the motor, causing it to use
much more electricity than is nor
mally required, and such an over
load naturally blows the fuse Try
running fewer clothes through the
wringer and feed them in more
slowly. Also loosen the tension
screws slightly so that the clothes
will come through more easily. 1t
Is a mistake to wiring clothes too
dry, not only because ii overloads
the motor of your machine, but also
because clothes (which are wrung
dry do not get sufficient bleaching
when hung on the line and are apt
to become yellow and dingy. 1t is
possible that the fuses which the
electrician has put in are not quite
heavy enough to stand the load, and
we suggest that you question him
on this point If they should blow in
the future. DO not allow him to
put i'm fuses that are too heavy,
however, because blowing fuses acts
as protection to your motor and
prevents its burning out: whereas,
IL you have a very heavy fuse you
lose this protection and may per-
manently injure your machine. The
trouble. however. is undoubtedly due
to the great tension on the wringor
and to the fact that the clothes are
fed into the wringer too rapidly.
Electrical Editor: am puz-
zled because the heating element
of my electric range seems to
burn out too rapidly. and must
consequently he replaced more
often than I was told would be
necessary. Can you suggest
cause for this, other than natural
wear? If YOU can it will be great.
ly appreciated by f. II. +.
A. Heating elements for electric
ranges arc now practically all made
of the same patented material,
which normally lasts a long time.
II your range is Of reliable make
YOU should not have the difficulty
you mention. It is possible that
YOU have received heating elements
for lower voltage than your pres
ent line voltage. or there may have
been mistake in wiring up the
range, either at tho factory or by
the electrician who installed it.
which rpSIIltS in 1puhlinp tho