[D8933ABC], Letter from Harold P Brown to Thomas Alva Edison, May 13th, 1889

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8933ABC

View document with UniversalViewer   → View document on Archive.org  → Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest

Title

[D8933ABC], Letter from Harold P Brown to Thomas Alva Edison, May 13th, 1889

Editor's Notes

[TAE marg: Kennelly=you remember I always believed in large static change loss in alternating as well as disturbance of pressure--Answer Brown please, E] My Dear Mr. Edison Thanks to your note to Mr. Johnson I have been able to arrange the matter satisfactorily; have supplied the state with Westinghouse execution dynamos and arranged for a test of the system at Johns Hopkins. For a long time I have felt sure that there was a "condenser action" between the conductors of an alternating current system and the moisture or conductive covering on the outside of the insulation of same, that would constantly tend to discharge to the ground when possible and might draw the current in its path; that it would also result in a loss of energy in an extended system. Dr. Duncan did not at first agree with me but he has ome around to my position and the two deaths recorded in inclosed clipping are frightful verifications of my theory. I wish in the Baltimore test to establish at least approximately, what this loss of energy will be and would be glad to have you suggest the best method of doing so. I have known of a series of five 50 volt lamps being run up to c.p. when placed between one terminal of a W. dynamo and the lead covering of an insulated cable attached to the other terminal; also of two men being unable to release themselves after taking hold of two lead overed ables (2,500 volt alt. current) until dynamo was stopped. Sincerely Yours, Harold P. Brown

Date

1889-05-13

Type

Folder/Volume ID

D8933-F

Microfilm ID

126:45

Document ID

D8933ABC

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
Download CSV | JSON