Mechanics of the Household: A Course of Study Devoted to Domestic Machinery and Household Mechanical AppliancesKeene, E. S. (Edward Spencer)
Science
Mechanics of the Household: A Course of Study Devoted to Domestic Machinery and Household Mechanical Appliances
Keene, E. S. (Edward Spencer)
Heating; Lighting; Plumbing
=The Dim-a-lite.=--In another form of turn-down lamp the change in
amount of light is produced by external resistance in the circuit.
The resistance is furnished by a coil of wire which is enclosed in a
special lamp socket. It possesses the advantage as a turn-down lamp
in a number of changes of light. The added resistance in a socket
decreases the flow of current and, therefore, the filament gives less
light. The resistance wire is divided into a number of sections and
contact with the terminals of these sections decreases the light with
each addition of resistance. The heat generated in the resistance coils
is dissipated by the brass covering of the socket.
[Illustration: FIG. 223.--The resistance type of “turn-down” lamp.]
An illustration of a turn-down lamp using a separate resistance is
that of Fig. 223, known commercially as the Dim-a-lite, which is an
excellent example. The Dim-a-lite attachment is a lamp socket in which
is enclosed a miniature rheostat or resistance unit. The lamp, when
placed on the Dim-a-lite, makes electrical contact as in an ordinary
socket but with the difference that in series with the lamp filament
is the rheostat, by means of which additional resistance may be added
to change the current flowing in the lamp. The rheostat is so arranged
that contact may be made at four different points in the resistance
coil, through which the electricity may be varied from 100 to 20 per
cent. of the normal quantity. The resistance in any case permits
current to pass through the filament in amounts of 70, 30 and 20 per
cent. of the normal amount. In use, the variation is made by pulling
one string to add resistance and thus dim the light; or by pulling the
other string, the resistance is decreased and more electricity passes
through the filament to produce a brighter light. The quantity of light
given out by the filament does not vary in the ratio of the added
resistance but a variable light is obtained at the expense of a small
amount of electricity which is changed into heat. When the light is
burning at its dimmest only 20 per cent. of the normal current is used.
Under this condition the light given out by filament does not express
the high efficiency attained when the lamp is burning at its full power
but it does give a convenient form of light regulation with the minimum
waste of energy.
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