THE DOMESTIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 84, 21 June 1881, Page 4

THE DOMESTIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC LIGHT.

The village of Mehlo Park has been lighted by »00 Edison incandescent lamps distributed over nn area one mile long by half mile wide surround ing his laboratory and works. Tliese lamps are of 19-candle power and included in a circuit of nearly eighty miles. The feed current is generated by nine dynamo-electric macliines driven by same steam-engine. The lights are screwed on and ofi' ns readily as gas ; the extinction of one is said not to affect the others ; and when a lamp fails in any way it can be replaced in a few moments. Three sizesof lamps are mado by Mr Edison, one of five, one eight aud one of 19 candle power. The eurront to supply a 16 cand'e lamp for an hour is stated to require the consumption of twofifths bf a ponnd of conl. But a greater economy is expected from the dynamo-electric machine whicli is now being construe ted. This gigantic ! generator is designed to take tlie place of sixteen smaller Edison ma- j chines with a view of saving power. The field magnets, of which there are three, aro 6.1 feet long, and the armature, 28 inches long by 21 inches iv diameter, is said to weigh 1£ tons. The machine and motor, a Porter Allen engine of a 100 horse power, are both mounted on the same castiron bed, like the great Brush machine recently constructed for the admiralty. The electro motive force of the working current from the machine is given as 140 volts. ; and the resistance of the armature as 1-200 of an. ohm. Such a current is expected to feed 800 incandescent lamps. — Engineering.