ELECTRIC STOVES 313 



size suitable to the current to be carried, otherwise they will 

 not take the risk of insurance. The greater the current to 

 be carried, the coarser is the wire required for safety. 



289. Electric Stoves. It is often desirable to utilize the 

 electric current for the production of heat. For example, 

 trolley cars are heated by coils of wire 

 under the seats. The coils offer so 

 much resistance to the passage of a 

 strong current through them that they 

 become heated and warm the cars. 



Some modern houses are so built that 

 electricity is received into them from the 

 great plants where it is generated, and 

 by merely turning a switch or inserting a FlG - i. - An electric iron 



J J on a metal stand. 



plug, electricity is constantly available. 



In consequence, many practical applications of electricity 



are possible, among which are flatiron and toaster. 



Within the flatiron (Fig. 201), is a mass of fine wire coiled 

 as shown in Figure 202; as soon as the iron is connected with 

 the house supply of electricity, current flows through the fine 

 wire which thus becomes strongly heated and gives off heat 

 to the iron. The iron, 'when once 

 heated, retains an even temperature 

 as long as the current flows, and the 

 laundress is, in consequence, free from 

 FIG. 202. -The fine wires are the disadvantages of a slowly cooling 



strongly heated by the cur- j rori) an( } O f frequent Substitution of 

 rent which flows through . 



them. a warm iron for a cold one. Electric 



irons are particularly valuable in sum- 

 mer, because they eliminate the necessity for a strong fire, and 

 spare the housewife intense heat. In addition, the user is not 

 confined to the laundry, but is free to seek the coolest part of 

 the house, the only requisite being an electrical connection. 



