q6o 



NA TURE 



[October 4, 1S94 



experiments np lo one hun<Ire<t ponnd«, filled wiih search coil 

 for ballistic tests ; Ewing's magnetic curve tracer ; round and 

 rectangular bobbins for experiments in self-induction ; a 

 secohmmeter, telephones, rheostats, &c., and a set of secondary 

 cells. 



The electrical laboratory is situated over the dynamo room. 

 Slate slabs are let into the wall on three sides of the room, 

 and stout wooden tables placed down the centre. Current is 

 supplied to all parts from the dynamo room. The apparatus 

 here comprises a Thomson galvanometer, three Kelvin electro- 

 static voltmeters, two Siemens dynamo-meters, four d'.\rsonval 

 galvanometers, seven Weston ammeters and seven Weston volt- 

 meters of different ranges, two Weston alternating wattmeters, 

 two Kelvin balances, one of which is specially arranged for 

 testing transformers ; two Cardew voltmeters, several other 

 ammeters and voltmeters of different types, standard cells, 

 resistance boxes, rheostats, &c. All tests of transformers are 

 carried on in this laboratory, the current being brought up from 

 the dynamo room below. 



dynamo, a 7 k.w. Fort Wayne dvnamo, a 5 k.w. Brush arc 

 light dvnamo. a 7 k.w. Victoria Brush mot'M gener.itor, a 15 

 W.w. Thomson-Houston incandescent dynamo, a 5 horse-power 

 Crocker.Wheeler motor, and several smaller molors of ditlerent 

 types; also a 12 k.w. Mordey alternator specially made for 

 this laboratory (the armature coils can be moved through any 

 angle, and two or three currents of any pha*e ditTerence thus 

 obtained). There are in the building at present eight motors 

 driving lathes, fans, &c., besides a !0 horse-power electric 

 elevator. The dynamo room also contains several transformers, 

 arc Lamps, &c., and a set of five enamel rheostats, each of 

 which can be made to carry from I to 50 amperes on 100 volt 

 circuit. 



The photometer room is furnished with a Biinsen photometer 

 and a Melhven standard, and is specially arranged for testing 

 incandescent lamps. 



The-e four l.-iboratories are supplemented by an Eltclricat 

 li^or<-i/ic>/* containing a fine lathe, by the .-Vmericau Machine 

 Tool Cooipany, driven by an electric motor. 



Fic. 3. — M,:;lhcmatical Lal-ora-ory. 



The dynamo room is on the ground floor. In one half 

 of the room are placed the lighting, in the other the experimental 

 tlynamos. The I.i^htini^ Dynamos consist of a Siemens dynamo 

 and an F.dison-Ilopkinson dynamo, each of 30 kilowatts output 

 at 105 volts, and each driven by a 60 horse power Willans engine. 

 The building is wired on the ihice-wirc system, but can be run 

 by either one of the dynamos when the load is light, or by a set 

 of secondary ceils ol Soo ampere hours' capacity placed in 

 another room. The lighting switch-board was made in the 

 electrical workshop, and is fitted with Weston station ammc'ers 

 and voltmeters. The E.t/'i>imtnl,it Dynamos are driven off a 

 main shaft either by a 90 hi>rse-power Macintosh and Seymour 

 engine, or by a 25 k.w. IvJjson motor, as is most convenient. 

 The main shaft is provided wiih ten magnetic dutch pulleys of 

 20 horse-power each, dc!<igncd and fitted at the college, and 

 with one magnetic cluich-coupling for 90 horse-power ; the 

 dynamos comprise two 12 k.w. Kdi»on dynamos, a 7 k.w, Vic- 

 toria Brush dynamo, a 6 k.w. Thomson-Houston arc light 



NO. I 30 1, VOL. 50] 



The work in the Electrical Engineering Laboratories is com- 

 menced in the second term of the third year. By that time the 

 students have gained a fair general acquaintance with electricity 

 in the physical laboratory. They then begin a scries of experi- 

 ments on electricity and magnetism, using mcthoils and instru- 

 ments in ordinary practical use, confining their attention, 

 however, to principles and not to their practical application. 

 This term's work is preparatory to that of the fourth year, when 

 students study the piactical application of these principles in 

 the dynamo room. Here they make experiments (m electrical 

 machinery of all kinds, and carry out tests of ilynanios, trans- 

 formers, motors, &c., under practical working conditions. 

 They can also see a typical lighting station at work, and become 

 familiar with the best practice and design in all branches of 

 electrical engineering. 



The practical instruction in the workshops is solely designed 

 to give the student some knowledge of the nature of the 

 materials of construction, to familiarise him with the more im- 



