In wiring up an automatic burner with two electro-magnets, two wires are run, one from the black button and one from the white button on push-plate. Most burners have binding posts inside the case, the wires running through a rubber-bushed hole in the base. One of the greatest defects in the old style automatics arose from the two binding posts being fixed on a hard rubber block, which was held by one screw to the burner top. This screw got loose at times and the block used to twist, making it hard to tighten the wires. But improvements have been made in this direction, the later burners having a block with a projection which engages in a hole in the cover, and is held by two screws.
If the push has been set in place, and all wiring done, connect up the burner, first ascertaining to which binding post the two wires run. This is done by having one button pressed, the lighting (white) one, for example, and then touching the binding post with either wire. The lighting armature will buzz violently when touched, whereas the extinguishing one only strikes once when contact is made. When only one person is working, a pin can be wedged in the push so as to keep the circuit closed.
In setting up these burners care must be taken not to bend contacts or alter adjustments, and absolute precaution is necessary that no wires touch where uninsulated. A cause of trouble is a dirty burner which does not allow the gas to strike the contact spark. The collar carrying the second contact may shift, or perhaps become short-circuited in a pendant or ratchet burner; a strip of asbestos will remedy this.
Burner Distribution.
In fitting a house with electric lighting burners, the question of selection is best solved as follows: For the main hall and foot of the cellar-stairs, use the automatic burner. For other hallways, dining-room, drawing-room, and bathroom use ratchet burners which turn on and light gas when chain is pulled. For bedrooms use plain pendant burners; automatics and ratchets add an element of danger, in that they may not turn off gas, or may leak. Most of this type on the market are as reliable as it is possible to make them, but still accidents will happen.
The frontispiece shows a diagram of the wiring in a dwelling house of medium size, dividing it into three sections, each section being controlled by a switch—either a hand switch or one of the automatic cut-out switches elsewhere described. The burners are distributed as follows:
No. 1 in the front cellar, pendant or ratchet.
No. 2 in the rear cellar at foot of stairway is an automatic burner controlled from kitchen above.
Nos. 3 and 4 ratchet burners on chandeliers in drawing-room and dining-room.
No. 5 ratchet or pendant in kitchen.