Building Electrical Component Age

Determine the age of building electrical panel, wiring, components

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• American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Vol. 12. American Institute of Electrical Engineers., 1896.
  Cites early electrical patents by Edison, Sprague et als.
• Aronstein, Jesse, and Wilfred E. Campbell. "Failure and overheating of aluminum-wired twist-on connections." Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on 5, no. 1 (1982): 42-50.
• ALUMINUM-WIRED HOMES, REDUCE THE HAZARD - PDF
• Bazerman, Charles. The languages of Edison's light. Cambridge, MA: MIT press, 1999.
• Dini, David A. "Residential Electrical System Aging Research Project" [PDF] Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA (2008). Retrieved 6/6/2010, original source: http://ul.com/global/documents/corporate/aboutul/publications/newsletters/thecodeauthority/tca_issue_2_2008.pdf
  and
  The Residential Electrical System Aging Research Project done for NFPA/FPRF is available in its entirety at this site, http://ewh.ieee.org/cmte/pses/ffat/support/RESAReport.pdf
• Dini, David A., P.E., "Some History of Residential Wiring Practices in the U.S.", [PDF] Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., (2006)
• Dini, David A., Thomas Z. Fabian, and J. Thomas Chapin. "An analytical study of some physical properties of wire and cable samples collected from older homes." [PDF] Underwriters Laboratories Inc (2006). David Dini, Northbrook, Ill. Tel: 1.847.664.2982; Email: David.A.Dini@us.ul.com
  These two papers were presented at the FPRF Aged Electrical Systems Symposium of 2006. These papers on this subject can be downloaded for free.
  http://www.nfpa.org/research/fire-protection-research-foundation/projects-reports-and-proceedings/proceedings/2006-proceedings/aged-electrical-systems-symposium
• Edison, T.A., "The DANGERS of ELECTRIC LIGHTING. [PDF] The North American Review, 149(396), pp.625-634.1889 RE-published by the University of Northern Iowa, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25101896 and available on JSTOR.
• Edison, Thomas A. "Manufacture of filaments for incandescent electric lamps." U.S. Patent 470,925, issued March 15, 1892.
  Abstract:
  
  As before explained in prior applications for patents for inventions of mine relating to lighting by electricity, it is essential that the incandescing conductor should be of high resistance and that great advantages result from the increase of resistance when such increase can be obtained without increase in the extent of the radiating surface.
  
  I have discovered that an incandescing conductor of very high resistance in comparison with the radiating surface may be made by taking several exceedingly-fine fibers or filaments of carbonizablematerial and welding them together prior to carbonization by a suitable cementing carbonizable liquid.
  
  For this purpose I prefer to use natural fiberssuc'h as bast, jute, manila, hemp, &c.-or other fibers of endogenous growth made up of a great number of parallel elementaryfibers cemented together by a natural cementing material, which on carbonization locks all the elementary fibers together into a homogeneous filament.
  
  I take several of these natural fibers, and after removing the extraneous matter by passing them through a cutting-die I form them into a bunch and dip them together into a solution of sugar or other carbonizable liquid and then carbonize them as one fiber, the carbonizable cementing-liquid binding them firmly together into a homogeneous filament of high resistance and moderate radiating surface.
• Edison, Thomas A. "Electric conductor." U.S. Patent 470,924, issued March 15, 1892.
  Excerpt:
  
  To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, o Llewellyn Park, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Conductors, (Case No. 732,) of which the following is a specification.
  
  The object of my invention is to eifectively insulate wire, so that it will be waterproof and capable of being used in moist places and even under water without detriment to its insulating qualities, and also fire-proof, so that if by accident the wire becomes red-hot the insulating-covering will not be set on fire and burned, but only oxidation Will result, which will leave the wire pyro-insulated.
  
  The main feature of the invention is the use as an insulating-covering of a mixture of rubber with an infusible material in the form of a powder.
  
  I prefer to employ crude gum rubber, which I soften or partially dissolve by a suitable solventsuch as benzole-and then mix in a suitable mixing or kneading mill with about twice the quantity of the infusible powder, such as kaolin, chalk, carbonate of zinc, or phosphate of lime. The proportions of these substances will vary with the use to which the wire is to be put.
  
  They must be such that the covering, when placed upon the wire, will be flexible, water-proof, and a good insulator, and such that when the wire is heated the covering will not burst into a flame at any temperature up to the melting-point of the wire.
  
  While pure rubber is an almost perfect insulator, it is so inflammable when used alone or in conjunction with cotton or other fabric that it cannot be safely used in electric-light wiring.
  
  In my in vention the infusible substance mixed with the rubber serves to prevent the flame, and a very considerable quantity thereof may be used without lowering the insulating and water-proof qualities too much for ordinary use.
  
  If the wire is to be used in situations where it requires to be bent sharply and so must be very flexible, or if it is to be used in very wet places, then the minimum amount of infusible material which will make the covering non inflammable must be used; also, the amount of rubber to the infusiblc material will vary, according to the character of the latter.
• Edison, Thomas A. "Electrical Indicator" U.S. Patent 307,031, issued October 21, 1884.
  Abstract:
  
  The object of my invention is to produce an eflicient apparatus for indicating variations of electro-inotive force in an electric circuit, preferably for use in connection with systems of electrical distribution to show the changes in pressure in the various parts of the district. The apparatus is also capable of use in automatically regulating the elcctro-motive force to correspond with such variations.
  
  I have discovered that if a conducting substance is interposed anywhere in the vacuous space within the globe of an incandescent electric lamp, and said conducting substance is connected outside of the lamp with one terminal, preferably the positive one,of the incandescent conductor, a portion of the current will,when the lamp is in operation, pass through the shunt-circuit thus formed, which shunt includes a portion of the vacuous space within the lamp.
  
  This current I have found to be proportional to the degree of incandescence of the conductor or candle-power of the lamp.
• Edison, Thomas Alva. "Electric lamp." U.S. Patent 223,898, issued January 27, 1880.
  Abstract: filled with scanning typographical errors -hard to read. Excerpt:
  
  By using the carbon wire of such high resistance l mu enabled to use flnc platinum wires for leiuling'wires, as they will have a small resistance compared to the burner, and hence will not limit and crack the sealed vac uunl-bulb. llatinu can only be used. no its expansion is nearly the same as that of glass.
  
  By using a considerable length of carbon wire and coiling it the exterior, which Is only a small portion of its entire surface, will form the principal rndiuting-surtnce; hence I am able to raise the apccitic heat of the whole of the carbon, and thus prevent the rapid reception and disuppeamncc of the light, which on a plain wire is pn-judicial, as it shows the least unsteadiness of the current by the flickering of the light; but it the current is steady the defect does not show.
  
  I have carbonized and used cotton and linen thread, wood splints, papers coiled in various ways, also lamp-black, plunibago, and carbon in various forms, mixed with tar and kneaded so that the same may be rolled out into wires of various lengths and diameters. Each wire. however, is to be uniform in size throughout.
• Greenfield, Edwin T. "Armored Electrical Cable" U.S. Patent 616,612, issued December 27, 1898.
  Excerpt:
  
  Be it known that I, EDWIN T. GREENFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Armored Electric Cables, of which the following is a specification.
  
  My invention is directed particularly to improvements in electric cables designed for ocean service, and has for its objects, first, to devise an armored cable of such anature that the insulation of the cable will be thoroughly protected from the attacks of borers or other insects or animals which usually attack cables of this nature when sunk in the body of the ocean second, to devise an armored cable of such a nature that its exterior armor will fully protect it (the cable) from unnatural wear when it is suspended over ledges of rock in the body of the ocean; third, to provide a cable of the nature indicated in which the armor is of steel, phosphor-bronze, or any preferred metal having the desired strength and qualities for adapting it for use in the ocean and in making such armor of a flexible nature, so that the completed cable may be wound upon a drum in the usual way when it is desired to lay it in the bed of the ocean, and, fourth, to provide a lead or equivalent covered cable with a flexible protecting armor which will protect the lead covering from the action of metal slivers when drawn into a conduit.
• Hargadon, Andrew B., and Yellowlees Douglas. "When innovations meet institutions: Edison and the design of the electric light." Administrative science quarterly 46, no. 3 (2001): 476-501.
  Abstract:
  
  This paper considers the role of design, as the emergent arrangement of concrete details that embodies a new idea, in mediating between innovations and established institutional fields as entrepreneurs attempt to introduce change.
  
  Analysis of Thomas Edison's system of electric lighting offers insights into how the grounded details of an innovation's design shape its acceptance and ultimate impact. The notion of robust design is introduced to explain how Edison's design strategy enabled his organization to gain acceptance for an innovation that would ultimately displace the existing institutions of the gas industry.
  
  By examining the principles through which design allows entrepreneurs to exploit the established institutions while simultaneously retaining the flexibility to displace them, this analysis highlights the value of robust design strategies in innovation efforts, including the phonograph, the online service provider, and the digital video recorder.
• Hughes, Thomas P. "The electrification of America: the system builders." Technology and Culture 20, no. 1 (1979): 124-161.
• Hughes, Thomas Parke. "British electrical industry lag: 1882-1888." Technology and Culture 3, no. 1 (1962): 27-44.
• Roger Hankey is principal of Hankey and Brown Inspections, Winter Park, CO. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee and served in other ASHI chapter and national leadership roles. Mr. Hankey is a National Radon Proficiency Program certified measurement professional and a Level II infrared thermographer. Contact Roger Hankey at: 970-393-6604 - rogerhankey47@gmail.com . Website: www.HankeyandBrown.com Mr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
• Norwig, E. A. "Patents of Thomas A. Edison, The." J. Pat. Off. Soc'y 36 (1954): 275.
• Mullin, Ray, and Phil Simmons. Electrical wiring residential. Nelson Education, 2014.
• Thanks to our reader Ed (anon) for assistance with technical page editing 03/29/2010.
• In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
  
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