Where the BGB all began....

[securespark]

With reference to another thread, I thought I'd post a copy of the following:

SOCIETY OF TELEGRAPH ENGINEERS AND OF ELECTRICIANS

of 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster.

Rules and regulations for the prevention of fire risks arising from electric lighting, recommended by the Council in accordance with the Report of the Committee appointed by them on May 11, 1882, to consider the subject.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/securespark/1stEdI.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/securespark/1stEdII.jpg

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks! I was particularly interested in the method of determining required cable size:

Should wires become perceptibly warmed by the ordinary current, it is an indication that they are too small for the work they have to do do and that they should be replaced with larger wires.

I suppose it's a fair enough approach ... and that is followed by another bit of sound advice:

Bare or exposed conductors should always be within visual inspection, and as far out of reach as possible...

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

Yeah, that's a bit tricky, that one.

Near enough to inspect, yet out of reach.

 

[JohnW2]

Yeah, that's a bit tricky, that one. Near enough to inspect, yet out of reach.

If I'd continued the quote, you would have seen that the reason for being 'within visual inspection' was so as to avoid people falling onto it or dropping other conductors onto it!

Kind Regards, John

 

[mfarrow]

I'm not too sure about No. 11. Is it suggesting a shallow trench for the cable, or underground cable tunnels?

The most striking for me is something we don't even do, and should do to this day:

"The value of frequently testing the apparatus and circuits cannot be too strongly urged".

 

[JohnW2]

The most striking for me is something we don't even do, and should do to this day: "The value of frequently testing the apparatus and circuits cannot be too strongly urged".

Indeed - and, more generally, most of the concepts of what it is saying throughout are essentially still valid today.

Kind Regards, John

 

[westie101]

I have some wonderful pre-war cable sales manuals in my desk at work giving all sorts of detail on long lost methods (though we do still have some in use)

 

[RF Lighting]

19. If the potential within any house exceeds 200 volts, the house should be provided with a "switch", so arranged that the supply of electricity can be at once cut off.

 

[SimonH2]

I think a few of you may have overlooked the fact that back then, the use of bare, or only minimally insulated, singles wasn't uncommon. Even where cables/wires were insulated, the quality (by today's standards) could well be poor - india rubber, paper, and cotton being common materials. Rubber would be prone to deterioration (ever seen how a rubber band tends to dry out and snap after a bit of time in the sun ?), and once that happens, like the other materials it's not so much an insulator as just non-conducting spacer which relies on being dry to to let the sparks out.

For the underground cables, I suspect the minimum would be a conduit - allowing the cables to be pulled out and replaced when the insulation fails.

 

[westie101]

One design going back to DC days and converted to AC use was wooden or pot troughing with 3 single cores mounted on brackets, the whole lot was then filled with bitumen compound.

Though I've not seen the pot design there is a lot of the wooden trough type in Whitehaven and we think we've now decommissioned it all!
To look at it's about 6 inch square with the trough fairly solid bit the lit is just nailed on so comes off easily

 

[securespark]

I like number 7.

Mentions wires being matched to the current and the need to fuse down when the wires get smaller.

Also the need for fuses to prevent the wires attaining a temperature exceeding 150 degrees F.