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Electrical Engineer's
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A BAND-BOOK
OF USEFUL DATA FOR ELECTRICIANS AND
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS.
BY
HORATIO A.| FOSTER,
Fellow A.I.E.E.; Mem.A.S.M.E. Consulting Engineer.
Author of
"Engineering Valuation of Public Utilities and Factories."
Withthe collaborationof eminentspecialists.
SEVEJVT^f^Qf^p^ HEVISED
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FOR OFFIQA^JJSE C
ACCOUNTED FOR IN tfKBfcwiTH PAR. 693 A. h.
NEW YORK:
D. VAN NO-STRAND COMPANY
1918.
Copyrighted, 1902, 1908, 1913, by
VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY,
D.
New York.
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By Exchange
Mlddtetown DepotSupply
March 10,188!
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^ PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.
£
In appreciation of the very cordial receptionaccorded
the earlier editions of this book, and in recognition of
the fact that vast changes and advances have occurred
in every branch of electrical engineering since the
original publication, the author feels called upon to
issue the present revised and enlarged edition.
The book as now presented, exceeds the previous
editions in magnitude by about 600 pages, while the
subject matter of every section has been either com-
pletely revised and brought up to date, or entirely
re-written. The aim throughout has been to supply
in exhaustive and condensed form, the data essential to
the engineer engaged in any of the branches of the vast
domain of electrical engineering. While our concep-
tion of the fundamental principles of electrical science
can of necessity have undergone no very considerable
alteration, those esse&ttal details which in effect con-
stitute thet^working -data .Qf the practicing engineer
have so altered and g^wn that books published only
:
a few years ago are already obsolete. It is believed
that a stage in the progress of electrical engineering
standardization has now been reached wherein a com-
pilation such as the present can be accepted as embody-
ing the vital element to which future advmces will
appear to a degree in the relation of superficial alter-
ations.
The original plan of dividing the subject into a
number of sections and having each revised by an
iii
iV PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.
eminent specialist in that particular field has again
been followed. Aside from the easy accessibility
afforded, this plan of construction is valuable only
in proportion to the weightiness of the authorities
entrusted with the revision of the several divisions,
and it is confidently believed that a perusal of the
names heading the sections will lead to the conviction
that a more approved and authoritative organization
could not have been wished for. The several con-
tributors are widely known and recognized as among
the first of their respective specialties, and it is be-
lieved that the general average of excellence assured
by their collaboration surpasses that of any compila-
tion of the kind previously attempted.
Each section is complete in itself, but needless
repetition has been avoided by the free use of cross
references through the medium of the very extensive
index.
Attention is directed to the large quantity of new
matter, appearing for the first time in print, in the
several sections. In the section on Conductors, e.g.,
the tables of Inductance, Capacity and Impedance, will
be found new and original. Many sections, e.g.,
Street Railways, Photometry, Conductors, Lighting,
Roentgen Rays, etc., are pointed out as examples
of exhaustive though condensed presentation. The
mechanical section has been treated with the same care
and attention as the electrical.
The matter has been confined to the requirements
of the electrical trades and sciences, the inclusion of
the usual mathematical tables and data found in the
commonly used handbooks having been avoided.
These tables being easily accessible, and the present
PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. V
edition being already of great magnitude, this exclu-
sion will be appreciated.
An important feature of the present volume will be
found in the voluminous and studiously developed
index and table of contents. The index is as com-
plete as the limitations of manipulative facility will
permit, and is calculated to render the finding of the
particular phase of the subject sought a matter of
least possible labor. The table of contents is designed
to supplement and extend the use of the index, and in
conjunction with the marginal thumb-index will render
instantaneous the location of sections and subdivisions.
The careful and lengthy work of revision and search
leads the author to believe that the number of errors
cannot be large, and he ventures to express the hope
that readers discovering any will have the kindness
to bring them to his attention.
In conclusion the author begs to express his grati-
tude to the many contributors for their cooperation,
and to the publishers for their painstaking effort and
generosity in making so handsome and substantial a
volume.
HORATIO A. FOSTER.
100 Broadway, New York.
June 1, 1908.
PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION.
No attempt has been made in this edition to add new
matter nor to make radical changes in the old, but in
a few cases substitution has been made, as in the latest
revision of the Standardization Rules of the Am. Inst.
E. E., and some changes in the text and cuts in the
chapter on Switchboards. A number of typographical
and other errors have been corrected.
HOEATIO A. FOSTER.
43 ExchangePlace,
New York, April 1, 1913.
