3. The central switch is the “automatic switch,” a single-pole double-throw switch, operated by the plunger of a solenoid. Through its lower arm there passes an insulated pin which, when the switch is down, makes connection between two contacts to the right and left of this arm.
If for any cause the current through the solenoid rises above that for which it is set (normally 0.075 ampere), its plunger is drawn up and the switch is tripped. Such rise in current is produced when a mine is struck, the resistance through the circuit-closer circuit being far less than that through the primary coil of the transformer. Such would also be the case when a mine cable is grounded.
When the automatic switch is tripped, the D. C. circuit to the mine is broken at its upper contact (see fig. 18) and D. C. circuit through red lamp and bell is made through the insulated through pin in the lower arm, thus giving warning. If at the same time A. C. power be on the busses and the firing switch on the master block be closed, A. C. will be thrown on the mine through the lower contact of the automatic switch, and the mine will be fired.
Just above the plunger of the solenoid there is a red knob attached to the tripping bar of the automatic switch release. This enables the automatic switch to be released by hand in observation firing and in testing.
4. The left-hand switch, a S. P. D. T. switch, is the “testing switch.” It is used to test the automatic switch, which should open when the testing switch is thrown down. The bell switch should be opened before throwing down testing switch. When the testing switch is in this position, the circuit being broken at its upper contact, the mine is cut out, and in place of the mine there is thrown in the red lamp of the signal block. The resistance of this red lamp is greater than that of the mine circuit when the mine is struck, so that if the automatic switch works for the current through the red lamp it will certainly work for that through the circuit closer when the mine is struck.
The circuit when the testing switch, T, is down and before the automatic switch drops is: From negative D. C. bus on power panel, to switch 3 closed up, to “operating board” terminal, to D. C. lead, to D. C. post on signal block, through green lamp, to D. C. jaw, to D. C. bus on operating board, through power switch, through solenoid to middle of testing switch T, to lower point of same, to operating board lamp bus L, through red lamp to “earth” post, to earth lead, to D. C. “earth” terminal on power panel, to switch 3, and to positive D. C. bus on power panel. The circuit, when testing switch, T, is down, and after the automatic switch has dropped, is the same as the above up to the power switch, then from the power switch through the insulated pin in the lower part of the automatic switch, to the lower jaw of the testing switch, and then the same as the circuit above.
A diagram similar to the wiring diagram, figure 18, at the end of the book should be made of the power panel and of one of the operating boards of each casemate and posted in a conspicuous place in the casemate. Any changes made in the wiring of either of these boards should be made immediately on this diagram.
Submarine mine cable, 19-conductor.—This is an armored cable about 1 inch in diameter and contains 19 insulated single conductors of No. 16 American wire gauge wire (51 mils in dia.). The conductors are arranged in two concentric layers around a single central conductor, the inner layer containing 6, the outer 12. One conductor in each layer is distinguished from the rest by some characteristic mark, as a spiral white thread, a wrapping of tape, or other easily detected mark. The marked conductor in the outer layer is No. 1, that in the inner layer No. 13, and the central conductor is No. 19. The other conductors are numbered at the shore end of the cable in a clockwise direction; at the distant end in a contraclockwise direction.
Submarine mine cable, 7-conductor.—In many cases the 7-conductor cable now on hand can be used to advantage for mine work, particularly in planting groups which do not require great lengths of multiple cable. In all such cases the old grand junction boxes are to be used as distribution boxes, thus providing for separate groups of 7 mines.
Submarine mine cable, single conductor.—This is an armored cable, about three-fourths inch in diameter, and contains an insulated conductor made of 7 strands of soft annealed No. 22 American wire gauge copper wire (25.35 mils in dia.).