The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-08-08

Proper wiring system is essential
for efficient use of electric appliances
and equipment Overloaded wires are
dangerous.
Many farm homes can't use proper
ly the electrical tools and appliances
now on hand, much less the many new
pieces of electrical equipment eX-
pected in coming months. Out of date
wiring systems are the reason, says
Maryland Agricultural Engineer A.
Y. Krewatch.
Years ago electricity's chief use in
the home was to furnish light. Often
bare bulbs were suspended from the
ceiling and many of the farm build
ings then were wired just for light.
That type of system is now inef-
ficient. Some homes and buildings
have only one or two circuits, start
ing at the meter and moandcrng here
and there and everywhere over the
building and ending up, no doubt, in
the attic.
Now. continue to follow this same
circuit. With the development of
motorized appliances and heating de
vices, cords were strung from light
ing sockets first Then new outlets
were added to the existing circuits
until each circuit was serving every
imaginable purpose including outlets,
wall brackets and lights. In most
such overloaded circuits, a 30-ampere
lad been substituted for the fifteen
ampere fuse, which burned out when
washing machine, hand iron or other
appliance was connected. As a result
proper protection, also, was removed.
as the circuit overloaded? ?" you
may ask. Yes, it is, and more than
that, as result of Choking up"
lamps, radios, refrigerators and other
appliances, yesterdays wiring is OBJ
viously inadequate and in large
number of instances unsafe.
This inefficieny shows itself in
lldIN way llCctJIIIS ClPl'lleillNNH eti \
slow to accomplish their task. Motors
start sluggishly. Lights dim when
other equipment is connected. Usual
ly there is nothing wrong with the
equipment. The trouble lies in the
wires which are too small to bring
enough current at the proper voltage
to satisfy the demands of all the
lights, motors, and appliances that
are connected.
Here is where efficiency comes in.
The longer or smaller the wire the
greater is the loss due to electrical
friction, or resistance, as we call it.
AS result there is less energy avail
able at the end of the wire for the
light heater or motor That is a real
loss but one very difficult for the
averaged person to understand and
check.
You undoubtedly have experienced
the change in pressure at times when
you were sprinkling your lawn. This
change was noticed after someone in
the house turned on the water; less
water used from the nozzle in your
hand. The reason is that the water
pipes all through your house are
about the same size and not large
enough to maintain the same pressure
at all outlets.
A wire too small is like pipe too
small. Electric current, like water
only gets through with effort. In the
process of trying to get through
some current is wasted in the form
of heat. The electrical meter records
this wasted energy along with the
productive energy used by the appli-
ance or motor. 1t is to your advantage
then to have safe and adequate
wiring system, one that can be easily
expanded and one that will prove
economical Every farmer is inter
ested in electrifying his farm in order
to save labor, cut operating costs, OF
improve his products, and to bring
conviences and necessities to his
home.
A farm wiring system, new or need
ing remodelng now, should be plan
ned and supplied with outlets con
veniently located for the use of mod
ern electrical farm equipment anC
with a distribution system of services
and feeders that will deliver propel
voltage.