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SAPIENTIA UNIVERSALIS EX LIBRIS
UNIVERSITY OF NEWHAMPSHIRE
f?P
Sis
DISCOVERY
INVENTION
INSPIRATIO
EXPERIMENT STATION LIBRARY
class b "i ^ x*1 3
NUMBER f>4"S ^J lijfuu\| ti JJ 1 " ? >5
ACCESSION ^M $ tiii^t't?
Bulletin No. 228
March. 1927
NEW HAMPSHIRE
AGRICULTURAL EXPER I MENT STATION
ELECTRICITY ON
NEW ENGLAND FARMS
A REPORT OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PROJECT ON THE
RELATION OF ELECTRICITY TO AGRICULTURE
FOR THE YEARS 192 5-1926
By W. T. ACKERMAN
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
DURHAM, N. H.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 2
Experimental Farms 5
Descriptions, Equipment Costs, Kilowatt-hour Current Con-
sumption and Costs, Load Curves and Observations
Summary of All Farms 29
Hates and Circuits ill
Applications oi
Farm Home Equipment
House Wiring and Lighting 32
Sewing Machines, Vacuum Cleaners 32
Water Supply 32
Electric Ranges 33
Household Refrigeration, Fireless Cookers 34
Dishwashers 35
Electric Water Heater-, Kitchen Ventilating Fans 36
Washing Machines, Flat Irons 37
Ironing Machines 38
Farmstead Equipment
Barn Lighting, Shop Equipment 39
Woodsawing. Fertilizer Grinding 39
Portable Motors 39
Fruit Equipment
Apple Sorter and Grader 39
Dairy Equipment
Milking Machines, Separators 40
Milk Cooling, Bottle Washer 40
Dairy Cooling Rooms 41
Electric Fan in Dairy Room 42
Hay Hoisting 42
Silo Filling 42
Poultry Equipment 42
Electric Incubators 42
Electric Brooders 43
Grain and Feed Mixer 43
Ultra Violet Light 43
Oat Sprouter 43
Poultry Lights 43
I )| 'i >ort unities for Further Research 44
Summary 45
Organization 46
ELECTRICITY ON NEW ENGLAND FARMS
The 160,000 farms in New England according to estimates by the United States
Department of Agriculture require more than 1.000,000 horse power to carry on
operations. This is an average of 6.7 horse power per farm and includes only
the power of work animals, gas engines, steam engines, electric, wind and water
motors. If statistics for the country as a whole may be taken, approximately
one third of this amount is used in stationary farm operations, for which elec-
tricity as generated and distributed by electric companies is a possible source of
power. The figure does not include household equipment, lighting and human
labor necessarj" to perform many farm and home tusks in which electric current
might conceivably be utilized.
In view of the rapid expansion of electric power throughoul the country the
questions arise: What percent of the human, animal and machine labor involved
on these farms may be profitably performed with electricity as energy? How
much of an electric load can be built up on representative New England farms'?
What appliances can be economically used on such farms'.' And will the result-
inn use of electricity be sufficient to pay power companies an adequate return
on lines extended into the rural sections? In order to answer such questions
experimental work was started m 1925 oh seven representative farms in different
sections of New Hampshire with a view to collecting data which would be ap-
plicable to New England in genital.
These farms, comprising dairy, fruit, poultry and general purpose farms were
selected and equipped with appliances to determine what limits in quantity of
electricity can be economically and efficiently used in their operations.
The equipment installed is metered in such a way that detailed records can
be secured each month for each piece of equipment. In some cases comparative
tests with other forms of power are made. Sixty major and 40 minor pieces of
equipment are now in use on the farms covering 36 or more distinct operations
and involving 50 or more different makes. Two of the farms were previously
well equipped and have, therefore, furnished 16 months' records. In the remain-
ing cases the period covered b}r the records to date varies from three to nine
months.
The farms comprising the experimental group were selected with considerable
care with particular emphasis on the number of operations that could be exper-
imented with and the intention of the farmer to exert himself in furnishing
accurate and full information. These farms cannot, be classed as average farms
of New England. They are considerably above the average in productiveness,
man-power and industry. For reasons that need not be enlarged upon here, it
was necessary to select such a type to provide opportunities for testing out a
greater variety of operations. On the other hand, none is in the nature of a
"gentleman's estate" or endowed with an undue amount of capital or wealth.
They are typical of the substantial and successful farm operated with modern,
will-balanced methods.
♦This is a progress report of the New Hampshire experiment on rural elec-
trification for the. New England territory carried on by the University of New
Hampshire Experiment Station in cooperation with the National and State Com-
mittees on the Relation of Electricity to Agriculture for the two year period
ending December 31, 1926. Future reports, covering groups of appliances and
their operating characteristics in greater detail and for a longer period of time,
are planned.
Appreciation is here expressed to the manufacturers of equipment, cooperating
farmers, agricultural organizations, electrical interests and others who have gen-
erously given of their support, financial and otherwise, which has made this
work possible. Cooperating farmers are: D. T. Atwood, Franklin; R. T. Gould,
Contoocook; J. R. Graham. Boscawen; R. E. Holmes. Stratham; S. D. Sterling,
Dover; N. F. Stearns, West Lebanon; and G. E. Townsend, Salem.
4 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 22S
The territory covered by the experimental group now extends from the south-
eastern side of the state at Salem, north to Dover, west to Concord, Penacook
and Franklin, and then to Lebanon on the western boundary of the state, about
midway in a north and south direction.
The cooperators are not obligated 1o keep all of the equipment tried out on
their farms. It is estimated that at least 80% of the household equipment in-
stalled at present on the experimental farms will be permanently retained,
though just what percent of the farmstead equipment will be kept is less evident,
due to the experimental nature of much of it. Later reports will be issued,
giving in more detail the cost of operating each appliance separately and in
groups, amount of use made of them, character of service rendered and returns
on the investment.
For the present, inventories with cost figures and partial deductions for various
appliances are given herewith for each farm.
Few figures are available for comparing the investment between the usual
standard and electrical eqiupment for the farm; and so far as farm home equip-
ment is concerned there are even fewer figures.
The 1925 census gives $420.00 as the average investment in implements and
machinery on New Hampshire farms, but this classification probably covers very
little of the type of equipment being used in the project, and, of course, includes
& great many small and run-down farms.
From figures on investment in farmstead and field machinery, other than elec-
trically operated, on file at the University, it is estimated that the larger, more
active, farms in New Hampshire, have approximately $2,000.00, more or less,
invested, and that medium-sized farms, in the active class, would have $750.00
to $1500.00 invested in such equipment. These figures are not likely to include
such fixed equipment as water supply systems, dairy cooling rooms and other
built-in equipment which would be considered as a part of the real estate.
Some electrically operated equipment is very efficient and has such a close
relation to the labor problem that its practical value would be arrived at by a
different analysis than a mere comparison of inventories. For example: the
soundness of an investment of $750.00 to $800.00 in a dairy cooling room would
have been immediately questioned a few years ago. Results thus far obtained
in the experiment indicate promising possibilities of this equipment paying for
itself on retail dairy farms in less than five years and then paying a dividend for
several years if well built and sturdy equipment is used. Probably a greater
number of factors enter into the arrival at this conclusion than with the older
types of equipment being considered.
On the other hand, another type of equipment of nominal cost may meet with
quick disapproval because of one of these same factors. This, then, is not an
attempt to justify large investments in equipment, but rather to point out the
necessity of measuring the practical value of electrically operated devices by a
somewhat different standard.
It will also serve to explain what may at first appear to be large investments
in equipment on the experimental farms.
Material Contained in Tables. The tables of current consumption for each
farm are based on monthly readings by circuits or similar divisions. These are
substantiated by compan3' readings against whose records the monthly costs were
also checked. Individual test meters, placed on each appliance, furnish more de-
tailed information..
The reader's attention is particularly directed to the section of each table
printed in bold-face type, following the tabulation by months, which summarizes
such important facts as monthly average, daily average for the year, percent of
the total consumption used by each circuit, the average rate per kilowatt hour
for each of the three circuits and the combined average rate of all circuits for the
year.
Current consumption on farmstead equipment on practically all of the farms
did not reach a well established limit, during the past year due to the experimen-
tal nature of many of the operations, but can be expected to increase as success-
ful applications are completed.
March, 1927]
Electricity ox New England Farms
FARM NO. 1 (RETAIL DAIRY)
DESCRIPTION
Four-man farm. Family of 4 adults. 2 children. Ten room brick house.
Large dairy barn with silos attached, large implement shed containing
ice house; other out-buildings. 175 acres of river bottom land, level and
free of stone. 45 head of cattle, 36 milked, 3 horses. 2 tractors, 1 Ford delivery
truck, pleasure car, modern machinery. Farm retails 300 quarts of milk and
cream a day in village two miles distant. House and barns wired about seven
years with no line construction cost. Two transformers of 10 K.V.A. capacity
used in parallel to balance load. A new rate schedule with one master meter
permits use of any appliance properly wired and fused.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
The following inventory gives each item of electrical equipment in use, with
its original purchase juice and cost of installation, if any. New equipment is
shown in Italics with date of installation in parentheses.
Household Equipment.
1. Wiring of house and barns including fixtures $325.00
2.
3.
4.
5.
7.
s.
II.
10.
It.
12.
Wiring of tenant house
Flat Iron
Fireless Cooker
Percolator $9.50; (6) Curling Iron $4.00 (March, 1926)
Washing Machine (Dec, 1925)
Vacuum Cleaner (April, 1926)
Household Refrigerator
Installation Lahor and Material (Aug., 1926)
Kitchen Range
Installation Labor and Material (Dec, 1925)
Hot Wad /■ //i ater
Installation Labor and Mat; rial (June, 1926)
Sewiitij Machine Motor (Aim.. 1926)
Group Total
Farmstead Equipment.
13. Milking Machine Motor (not metered until July, 1925)
14.
15.
16.
17
18
19
20
21
22
Installation Labor and Material ....
( 'nam Separator — Motor Kquipment
1V-> H. P. Portable Utility Motor
Installation Costs (July. 1926)
Water Pump — Owner's House
Tank 48x72 . ._
Installation Incidentals (Dec, 1925)
Water Pump — Tenant House (June, 1926)
Hay Hoist (July, 1925)
W-2 H. P. Shop Motor (not connected)
Yard and Building Flood Light (not connected)
Concrete and Fertilizer Mixt r (tested only)
Dairy Cooling Room (April, 1926)
M> chanical Equipment — Instalh d price
Room Const ruction and Insulation (Materia! and Labor)
75 00
8.50
37 00
13.50
155 00
39 50
250 00
24 09
225 00
87.00
132 50
33 40
18.50
$1423.99
$100 00
17.40
35.00
325 00
12.10
87.20
138 00
7.00
125 00
130 00
82 80
29 70
57.00
510 SO
194.45
Group Total $1851.45
All equipment total $3275 . 44
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Per cent of appliances
Per cent of total cost
Per cent of circuit cost
for appliances
Per cent of circuit cost
for installation
Lighting
45 4
24 9
84.1
15.9
Heating
27 3
45 9
90.4
9 6
Power
27 3
29.2
96.2
3.8
Household
54 5
43 4
Farmstead
45.5
56.6
Of the total equipment cost 89.6% is for appliances and 10.4r/ for installation.
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 22S
Farm No. 1. Current Consumption and Costs — 1925-1926. Table 1 shows
current consumed on Farm No. 1 for 1925 and 1926.
Equipment operated during 1925 consisted of Items 1-7, 13, 14 and 16 as given
on the preceding page.
The rate schedule was changed Jan., 1926, and for the second year all equip-
ment was on one master meter. Equipment operated in 1926 included the
entire list "Equipment Costs" except the Hood lighl and shop motor.
It will be noted that the average daily consumption on the light circuit did
not reach 2 kilowatts during any season of 1925. Practically no variation oc-
curred, which is unusual.
TABLE 1. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 1
1925
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year's total
Monthly average
Daily average
Per cent
Average rate per kwh. .
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept
Oct., Nov., Dec
1926
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year's total
Monthly average
Daily average
Average rate per kwh. . .
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept
Oct., Nov., Dec
Light Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
67
4.",
43
38
29
L".i
36
43
10
55
56
51
532
44.3
1.45
31.82(;
1.72
I .05
1 . 29
1 .77
Cost
$8.04
5.40
5.16
1.56
:; is
3.48
4.32
5.16
4.80
6.60
6.72
6.12
$63.84
5.32
. 17
48. 19r;
$0. 12
$0 . 206
.126
. 1 55
.211
Power Circui r
Kilo-
watt
Hours
49
49
32
34
38
27
63
160
1 55
162
1 45
226
1140
95.0
3. 12
68. 18' ;
1.15
1 .08
4.10
5.7!)
Cost
$3 . 76
3.76
3 m
3.13
3.30
2 . 83
4.36
8.48
8 . 27
8.57
7.84
1 I . 29
$68.63
5.71
.18
5i.8r;
$0.0602
1.117
.101
.229
.301
Monthly Total
All Circi its
Kilo-
watt
Hours
116
94
75
72
67
56
99
203
195
217
201
277
1672
139.3
100',
334
430
42(1
460
550
590
1)1(1
870
900
810
690
730
7694
641.1
Cost
$11
9
80
16
8.20
7.69
6.7S
6 .31
8 68
13.64
13.07
15.17
14.56
17.41
$132.47
11 03
$.0792
$16.88
211.72
20.32
21 .112
25.52
27 . 1 2
39.92
38.32
39.52
35 .92
31.12
32.72
$350.00
29. 16
$.0455
Daily A
VERAGE
All Circuits
Kilo-
watt
Cos!
Hours
3.74
$0,383
3 . 35
.327
2.41
26 1
2.40
. 256
2.16
.218
1.86
.210
3.19
.280
6 . 54
. 14(1
6.50
. 435
7.00
. 189
6 70
.485
8.93
.564
4.57
$0.36
3.16
$0,323
2.13
.227
4.31
.384
7 . 56
. 5 1 2
10.77
SO . 54 1
15.35
.740
13.54
.655
15.33
.730
17 74
. 823
1 9 . 66
.904
29.35
1 . 28
27 .41
1 . 23
30.(10
1 .31
26 . 1 2
1.15
23.00
1 .02
23.54
1 .05
21.07
$0,958
13.22
$0,643
17.5
.817
2s.it
1 . 29
24.23
1 .07
March, 1927]
Electricity ox New England Farms
1
320
£.40
1
9 Si 5
/a/
equipment
160
//
*
rt/IMmg
machine and
A^umjo
ao
Form
Oil Cll
total
-cuits
//
*
Light ^
0
^W
CT^Nt j*
Z2~—
1 "
TmJ/^
/
- —
—
Z ignis and
Power
Circuit
"■**•
small devices
_J
p
t
1
1
i
fi
k
9
i
u
960
1
P^
l€>
880
300
'
m-KQ
All
equipment
^640|
1
k
k
%56Q
<430l
400
3£0
/-arm roroi
Only one meter circuit used
with combination rate
Fig. 1. Electric load. 1925 and 1926, on Farm No. 1.
In 1926 the increase in electric load or consumption for the farm as a whole
amounts to 360%.
The 192.") load curve in Fig. 1 shows the results for a year before efforts at
load building were -i aried. and may be considered as normal consumption up to
this time. The lighting circuit curve is unusually flat, showing a fairly uniform
consumption throughout the year. In the power circuit curve the increase in
November and December is not normal and was caused by the installation of
the electric range. If this appliance had not been installed there would have
been a pronounced decline starting with October. The two slight peaks at Aug-
ust and October are normal.
The 1926 curve shows the result of active efforts at load building which in-
creased the consumption 360% over the original load and placed well defined
peaks from July to September. Considering that most city load curves show
quite a depression during the summer season, this trend is probably desirable
from the power company's standpoint.
8 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 22S
FARM NO. 2 (RETAIL DAIRY)
DESCRIPTION
Three to four-man farm. Family of three adults. Nine room house.
Large dairy barn with silo attached; two garages and implement shed. 75
acres of which 30 acres are tillable. 36 head of milking cattle, 2 horses, 1 tractor,
1 delivery truck, pleasure car, modern machinery. Farm located on state road.
Retails 250 to 300 quarts of milk and cream daily in city one mile distant.
House and barns wired 10 years under cooperative arrangement between farmers
and service company; 12 pole extension; cost $375. One transformer of 3 K.V.A.
capacity.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
Much of the following equipment has been installed by the men of the place
themselves, and this may account for some variation from the usual cost prices.
(The rate for current in this location practically prohibits the use of high-wat-
tage heating devices).
Light Circuit Equipment
1. Wiring of house and barns, including fixtures $450.00
2. House lights— 25 outlets, average 40 Watt lamps.... 10.00
3. Barn lights— 22 outlets, average 40 Watt lamps 8.80
4. Flat iron 6.50
5. Washing Machine 150 . 00
6. Bottle Brush (No installation cost) 40.00
7. Shop equipment (No installation cost) 25.00
8. Vacuum Cleaner 60 00
9. Special vacuum pump for milking machine 150.00
10. 5 H. P. motor for milking machine 80.00
1 1 . Battery charger (Jan., 1926) 19 . 50
Group Total $999.80
Power Circuit Equipment
12. House Refrigeration machine (Rental contract)
Initial deposit $225 00
Rental charge ($2.00 per month) 34 months 68.00
13. Dairy Cooling Room Machine (Rental contract)
Initial deposit 225 . 00
Rental charge ($2.00 per month) 34 months 68.00
Insulation of cooling room (converted ice room) 13.00
14. Milk Cooling Pump (No installation cost) 76 00
Group Total $675 00
All equipment total $1674 80
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Light
and Power Heat
Circuit Circuit Household Farmstead
Per cent of total appliances 78.6 21.4 42.9 57.1
Per cent of total equip, cost 59.6 40.4 51.1 48.9
Farm No. 2 — Current Consumption and Costs. Table 2 shows the current
consumed on Farm No. 2 for 1925 and 1926.
The full list of equipment given on the preceding page was operating for the
two-year period.
The total consumption for 1925 was 3362 kilowatt hours and for 1926 was
3252 kilowatt hours.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
The total of both circuits in 1925 shows a steady rise from 5.21 kwhs. per day
in the winter season to 12.58 kwhs. in the summer and then a decline to 8.43
kwlis. in the fall. Practically the same tendencies are evident in 1926, although
the values are somewhat lower, due to more efficient operation and improvement
of equipment.
TABLE 2. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 2
HeatC
IRCUIT
Light and Power
Circuit
Monthly Total
All Circiits
Daily Average
All Circuits
Kilo-
watt
Hours
( o-t
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Cost
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Cost
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Coot
1925
"9
36
112
157
271
.'.'.(i
252
2(14
139
120
9
$6.63
2.52
7.84
10.99
19.18
1 7 . 50
17.64
1 8 . 48
9 7:;
8.40
.63
is:;
136
105
1 ;,3
1 I.'.
149
108
111
173
147
156
204
$23.79
17.68
13 65
19.89
1 4 . 95
1 !l . 37
14 04
14 43
22.49
19.11
20.28
26 . 52
1S3
145
141
265
272
423
358
437
286
276
213
$23.79
IS. 31
16.17
27 . 73
25.94
3S.55
31.54
32.07
40.97
js.84
2S.68
27.15
5.90
5.17
4.54
8.50
8.77
14.10
11.54
11.70
14.56
9.22
9.20
6.87
$0,767
.654
.521
.924
.S37
1 . 282
July
1.015
1.032
1 . 365
.931
.956
.876
1622
135.1
4.45
48.21%
$113.54
9.44
.312
33.4%
$0.07
1740
145.0
4.76
51 79';
$226.20
18.41
.618
66.6',
$0.13
3362
280.1
100%
$339. 74
27.85
• • • •
$0,161
9.21
Monthly average
$0,930
• . . .
Average rate per kwh. . .
....
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
.5
5.96
8.32
2.91
$0,035
.417
.582
.203
4.71
4 .VI
4 26
5.51
$0.01-
.596
553
.716
• • » •
—
5.21
10.55
12.58
8.42
$0,647
1.01
1.13
( lit Nov Dec
.919
1920
5
4
5
59
152
220
205
2 L't',
209
L65
96
19
$0 . 35
.28
.35
4 . 1 3
10.64
16.015
14.35
L5.82
14. 63
1 1 55
6.72
1 . 33
193
117
101
157
170
125
117
146
17.".
lis
166
233
$25.09
15 21
jo >i:;
20.41
22. U>
16.25
15.21
1 8 . 98
22 7:.
15.34
21.5S
30 . 29
198
121
166
216
322
354
322
372
384
283
262
252
$25.44
15.49
21.28
24.54
32.74
32.28
29.56
34.80
37.38
26.89
28.30
31.62
6.38
4.32
5.35
7.20
10.38
11.80
10.38
12.00
12.80
9.12
8.73
8.12
$0,820
.553
.686
.818
1.056
1.076
,Jiilv
.953
1.122
1.246
.867
.943
1.020
1374
114. 5
3.77
42.2%
$96. 18
.802
.264
28. 3%
$0.07
1878
156.5
5. 14
57.8%
$244. 14
2.035
.668
71.7%
$0.13
3252
271
8.91
100%
$340.32
2.837
.932
$0,164
Monthly average
Average rate per kwh. . .
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
Apr., May, .tune
. 1 55
4 . 83
6.96
3.04
$0,011
. 33S
. 486
.213
5.23
4.96
4.76
5.61
$0,680
.646
.618
.741
....
5.39
9.79
11.72
8.65
$0,691
.984
1.10
( let , Nov., Dec
.954
10
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
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/ \
/
\
i
60
30
Heat c/rco/f
v/
/^efr/gero-
c
t/on <
1 Rc
■yna
/mp
Fig. 2. Electric load for 1925 on Farm No. 2.
FARM TOTAL AND SUMMARY
The curves of total consumption for Farm No. 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,
are very similar in general contour, and show a well established plan in the use of
the electrical equipment used throughout both yens. The high peak load cornea
from June to September each year with the extreme values on these two mom lis.
A slight falling off between these peaks occurs in both years in both circuits.
Here again is a farm load that appears to have desirable qualities from the
standpoint of the power utility company.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
11
*
^
fc:
|
\
^ Q ^
^ <o o
i
H
39Q
1
360
330
^F
8
3 300
L 2Z0
k
k
^240
A//
e-Qu/pment
/
/
L/gh+s and
/Vz/k/rxy
moc/7/ne
Farm foto/
a// c/rcu/f-3
AGO
i\
/
/
/
1
_150
M
r- — _
.-''
A
/
/
f
iec
V
\
\
\
>
\
\
\
\
A
9C
"""■ -»*
Power c/rcu/t
6C
3C
c
\
fPefr/gera -
r/on <">*Pi/mp
Hear c/rcu/f
i—
Fig. 3. Electric load for 1926 on Farm No. 2.
The decline from January to March in 1925 on the light and power circuit is
one month longer in duration than in 1926. A late spring might easily have
caused this. The milking machine is on this circuit with the lights and small
devices. Refrigeration is the principal load on the heat circuit. It will be
noticed that the peak loads in 1926 do not run as high as in 1925. While this
may be partly due to cooler seasonal temperatures, a more important factor was
the improvement of the insulation of the dairy cooling room. Many leaks and
points requiring extra insulation were found and repaired in the winter of 1925-26.
12 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 228
FARM NO. 3 (WHOLESALE DAIRY)
DESCRIPTION
Three-man farm. Family of three adults, two children. Fourteen room
house. Large dairy barn with silo, horse barn, garage and shop, medium
sized ice house, granary, implement shed, and medium sized hay barn. Hill
farm of 330 acres of which 75 are tillable. 47 head of cattle, 27 milked. 3 horses,
one tractor, one delivery truck, pleasure car, modern machinery. Farm delivers
an average milking in morning and night of 225 to 250 quarts of milk and cream
per day to retailers in town three miles distant. House and buildings wired in
1903 from nearb}' line without construction cost. Transformers used, — light and
heat circuit 7.5 K.V.A., power circuit 2.5 K.V.A.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
Light Circuit Equipment.
1. Wiring of house and barns, including fixtures $315.00
Armored conduit, concealed wiring system.
House lights — 55 outlets, average 40 watt lamps 22 00
3. Barn lights — 20 outlets, average 40 watt lamps 8.00
4. House water pump 75 00
Installation cost — electric and plumbing 15.00
5. Vacuum cleaner 52 00
G. Curling iron $3.50; (7) Radiant Heater $7.00 10.50
o
Group Total $497.50
Heat Circuit Equipment. (Installation of the heating circuit wiring is included
in the following installation costs.)
8. Combination wood-electric range $321 50
Installation costs — electric and plumbing 92 00
9. Dishwasher 80 00
Installation costs 0 00
10. Clothes Washer 150.00
Installation costs 0 00
11. Hot water heater (July, 1926) 64.50
Installation costs — electric and plumbing 27.67
12. Waffle Iron $12.00; (6) Toaster $5.00; (7) Percolator $8.50 25.50
13. Flat iron 5.00
Group Total $766 17
Power Circuit Equipment. (Installation of the power circuit wiring is in-
cluded in the following installation costs).
14. 2 H. P. motor — operating the milking machine, cream separator and
milk cooling pump $ 75 00
Installation cost 35 . 00
15. Centrifugal water pump for milk cooling 30.00
16. Shafting, pulleys, hangers, belts, etc., for the above 25 00
Installation costs 15 . 00
(i roup Total $180.00
All equipment total $1443.67
DISTRIBUTION OF COST EQUIPMENT
Lighting
Per cent of appliances 38.9
Per cent of total cost 34.5
Per cent of circuit
cost for appliances 75. 84. 72 7
Per cent of circuit
cost for installation 25. 16. 27.7
Of the total equipment cost 77.2% is for appliances and 22.8% for installation.
//* ating
Power
Household
Farmstead
44.4
16 7
83 25
16.75
53.1
12 4
87.5
12.5
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
13
Farm No. 3 — Current Consumption and Costs. Table 3 shows the current
consumed by Farm No. 3. Except for the hot water heater which was in-
stalled during the summer of 1926. the full equipment listed under "Equipment
Costs", was operating for the two-year period.
TABLE 3. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 3
1925
January. . .
February. .
March
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . . .
November.
December .
Year's total ....
Monthly average
Daily average. . .
Per cent
Average rate per
kwh
Seasonal
Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar.
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept.
Oct., Nov., Dec. .
1926
January. . .
February. .
March
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . . .
November.
December.
Year's total . .
Monthly average
Daily average.
Per cent
Average rate per
kwh
Seasonal
Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar..
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept.
Oct., Nov., Dec.
Light Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
77
63
42
31
37
17
is
24
•11
50
7S
97
575
47.9
1.57
24.65','
2 02
.934
.902
2.44
73
59
77
38
51
24
20
25
39
41
70
77
594
49. 5
1.62
21.44
2.32
1 . 24
.913
2.04
Cost
86.76
:, 64
:; 96
3 us
3 . 56
1 90
2 mi
2 52
3 SS
I 60
6 84
8 . 36
$53. 10
4.42
. 146
30. 33%
$0.0923
SO . 1 S 1
.094
,091
.215
16.50
5 26
6.76
3.64
4.6S
2.52
20
60
72
.ss
20
6.76
$54. 72
4.56
. 149
26. 897c
$0. 092
SO . 205
.119
,093
.183
Heat Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
is
14
120
15
21
49'
39
49
43
32
28
16
444
37
1.22
19.02';
$19.76
1.65
.054
11.29%
$0. 0445
1 68
934
1.42
.826
14
9
22
17
20
28
80
112
38
39
11
14
404
33.6
1. 11
14. 59' ;
.5
.714
2 . 5
.695
Cost
$ 1 . 00
1 . 00
1 50
1.00
1 .04
2.02
1.67
2 02
1 s|
1.42
1 .28
1.00
SO. 072
.045
.059
.040
$1.00
1.00
1.07
1 lilt
1.00
1 . 28
3.10
4 . 22
1 .63
1.67
1.00
1.00
$18.97
1.58
.0519
9.32%
$0. 0469
$0,034
. 036
.097
.04
Power Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
1 23
102
97
86
115
96
Of)
98
113
113
in;
156
1314
109.5
3.6
56.34r;
3 :,7
3 26
3 . 37
4.18
146
121
193
146
215
133
109
119
143
115
138
194
1772
147.6
4.85
63.977r
5.11
5.42
4.03
4.85
Cost
$9 . 38
s 12
7.76
6 ss
8.90
7
7
7
8
8
8
11
f,s
92
si
78
7S
96
36
$102.36
8.53
.28
58. 387
$0.0778
$0 . 280
.258
.267
.316
$10.76
9.26
1 3 . 58
10.76
14.60
9.98
8
9
.54
.14
10.58
8.90
10.08
13.64
$129.82
10.81
.355
63. 79%
$0. 0732
$0 . 373
.388
.307
.354
Monthly
Total
All Circuits
Daily Average
All Circuits
Kilo-
Kilo-
watt
Cost
watt
Cost
Hours
Hours
218
$17.14
7.03
SO . 553
179
14.76
6 39
.527
259
16.22
s 35
.523
132
10.96
4.40
. 305
173
13.50
5 . 58
. 435
162
11 .60
5.40
,386
1 56
1 1 .59
5 . 03
.374
171
12.38
5 . 5 1
. 399
197
14.47
6 56
482
195
14.80
6 . 29
.477
ooo
17.08
7.40
. 500
269
20.72
8.67
.008
2332
$175.22
194.3
14.60
6.38
$0.48
100%
$0.0715
7.27
$0,534
5 . 1 3
.396
5.71
.418
7.45
.572
233
$18.26
7.51
$0.5S9
189
15.52
6.75
.554
292
21.41
9.41
.000
201
15.40
6.70
. 5 1 3
286
20.28
9.22
.654
185
13.78
6.16
.459
209
13.84
6.74
.446
256
15.96
8.25
.514
220
15.93
7 . 33
.531
195
14.45
6.29
.466
219
17.28
7.30
.576
285
21.40
9.19
.690
2770
$203.51
230.8
16.96
7.58
$0. 556
100%
$0. 0707
7.93
$0,612
7.37
.543
7.44
.496
7.58
.577
14
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 22S
^
3
s
\
>s
?
^
^
S
fc
§
k
^
§
is
£QQ
1
P60
AH
equ//Omenf
?40
2?0
\
Form total
a// c/rr.t/its
<0
SiZOO
/ fio
k
k
^ 160
W//k/r>g mac-
hine and
F^amp
Ij
140
/
120,
/
/
/
Flower
circuit
<
_1Q0
\
s
N
*»» 1
/
•
•
— — —
_ * *
f
<9Q
60
Y*s.
/
/
S
•— • "" -"*
r
/
•
s
Lights ana
smo/i 'at wees
Light
c/rcu/t
. /
t
/
/
/
-40
\ I
1 \
1 «
\
— f
s
s
s
<-'
/
t
>
O
>. A
.---
^ /
„-'
Heat
- c/r~ci//t
\
• _ _— >
»"
We*} ting anu
Cooking
o/op/iances
1
Fig. 4. Electric load for 1925 on Farm No. 3.
The combination wood-electric range accounts, in a large measure, for the
trend of the heat circuit curve in Figs. 4 and 5. Being the only source of heat
for a very large kitchen, it is used with wood as fuel most of the year, with
the electric side as an auxiliary. The high consumption in March, 1925, was due
to sickness, and is considered unusual for this season of the year. The high rise
in August, 1926, is due somewhat to the installation of an electric hot water
heater, although considerable canning was done throughout the summer.
The power circuit operates only the milking machine, milk cooling pump and
a rarely used separator. A 2 H.P. motor working these through a countershaft
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
15
*
s
<*
1
1
1
^
i
300
2flO
All
eQUiprrx=nt-
c6C
££0
rarm total
all circuits
200
\J '
Y /
1
•
V / '
fli/king
machine
and
Pump
5 iao
' /
\
/ \ \
1 i
/
/
\
k
k
Lisa
/
/
\
\
\
/
/
/
\
V
\
/
0
140
120
Power"
circuit .
1
i
i
\
/
\
\
\
j
/
t
\
\
1
1
\
\
A
/
/
IOO
\
+*
s
N
/
I
QQ
/ tr
eo
circuit
4
S
s
s
*
V
\
\
/
/
''*'
Lights ana
small 'devices
AO
\
\
\
\
\
\
i
t
s
\
\
^m 0
1
_ Heat
circuit
Heating and <
Cookinq 1
appliances K
0
-— *
I
5. Electric load for 1926 on Farm No. 3.
involves a very considerable loss in efficiency. An average of 25 cows are milked
daily.
The greater power consumption in 1926 indicates increased milk production,
and the fluctuations reflect such points in the herd management as freshening
and drying up of the cows, changes in feeding schedules, etc.
It will be noticed that there is a repeated tendency to increase in March,
April, September and December.
Assuming that a high summer peak load would be desirable, the general
curve would respond if household and dairy electric refrigeration were installed.
The curve also emphasizes the value, from an electric load basis, of developing
siicli summer operations as hay hoisting, ensilage cutting, etc., even though of a
short term type.
16 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 228
FARM NO. 4 (RETAIL DAIRY)
DESCRIPTION
Three to four-man farm. Family of six adults. Twelve room house.
Large dairy bam with silo, bottling room, dairy wash room, refrigerator
room, carnage house, and horse stable. 190 acres of which 65 acres are tillable.
27 head of cattle, 19 milked, 2 horses, 1 delivery truck, 1 pleasure car, modern
machinery. Farm purchases some milk from near-by farm and retails 300 quarts
daily in city two miles distant. Buildings wired in 1919 from near-by line with-
out construction costs. Transformer of 10 K.V.A. capacity.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
The following inventory of equipment shows new installations in Italics:
Light Circuit Equipment
1. Wiring house and barns $215 . 00
2. House lights — 42 outlets, average 40 watt lamps 16.80
3. Barn lights — 9 outlets, average 40 watt lamps 3.60
4. Washing machine (March, 1926) 155.00
5. Sewing machine motor drive (Aug., 1926) 22.40
6. Curling iron $2.75; (7) Toaster $6.00; (8) Percolator $8.00 16.75
9 & 10. Radiant Heaters $12.00 & $8.00; (11) Battery Charger $16.50.. 36.50
12. Oscillating Fan (Oct., 1926) 21 . 15
13. Vacuum Cleaner (June, 1926) • 59.50
14. Separator Motor equipment 47 . 00
Group Total $593 70
Heat Circuit. (Installation of the heating circuit wiring is included in the fol-
lowing installation costs) : — -
15. Combination coal-electric range $227 . 50
Installation costs (Dec, 1925) 142.61
16. Ironer 129.00
Installation costs (Aug., 1926) 29.20
17. Flat Iron 6.75
18. Hot water heater 64 . 50
Installation costs (June, 1926) 11 .78
19. Combination dairy cooling room & household refrigerator, new
cooling room, construction (material & labor) 234.50
MecJianical equipment (installed price) 510.80
Electrical connections (May, 1926) 21 .20
Group Total $1377 84
Power Circuit. Special circuit wiring $41 .30
20. Milking machine motor 75 00
Installation 30.00
21. Deep well pump (Nov., 1925) 331 . 92
Installation, Plumbing $33.40; Electric $11.10 44.50
Group Total $ 522.72
All equipment total $2494.26
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Lighting Heating Power Household Farmstead
Per cent of appliances 66 7 23.8 9.5 80.9 19.1
Per cent of total cost 23.8 55.3 20 9 51.8 48.2
Per cent of circuit cost
for appliances 88. 83. 78.
Per cent of circuit cost
for installation 12. 17. 22.
Of the total equipment cost 83% is for appliances and 17% for installation.
Farm No. 4 — Current Consumption and Costs. During the year 1925 only a
lighting circuit was in use operating lights, milking machine and minor devices.
Three separate circuits and all the equipment listed were in operation in 1926, ex-
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
17
cept the ironer which was installed in midsummer. The total consumption in-
creased 267% over 1925, and attained a monthly average of 623.5 kwhs. The
1926 curve for the lishtinji circuit, as shown in Fiji. 6. has much the same con-
tour as that for 1925. but is of lower total consumption, due to the transfer
of some of the equipment to other circuits.
The February peak in the 1926 heat circuit may be attributed to uneconomical
use of current in becoming acquainted with the operation of new equipment. A
TABLE 4
Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926-
-Farm No.
4
Monthly
Light Circuit
Heat Circuit
Poweh Circuit
Total
Daily Average
All Circuits
All Circuits
Kiln-
Kilo-
Kilo-
Kiln-
Kilo-
watt
( ',,-!
watt
Cost
watt
Cost
watt
( lost
watt
Cost
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
1925
January
195
S16.60
6 29
$0,535
227
19.16
8.10
.684
121
219
183
120
99
100
10.68
18.52
15 64
LO 60
8 92
9 00
3.93
7 30
5 90
4.00
3.19
3 . 22
.344
.617
May
. 504
.353
Julv .
.287
.290
September
1 1!)
in 52
.350
October
1 56
13 In
5 03
.434
257
2 1 . 56
8 56
.718
December
230
19. 10
7 11
.025
Year's total ....
2036
$174.08
Monthly average
169.6
14.50
Daily average. . .
5.57
$0.47
Average rate per
$0. 0855
Seasonal
Dailv Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar.
6.00
$0,516
Apr., May, June
5.73
.491
Julv, Aug., Sept.
3. 15
.309
Oct., Nov., Dec. .
6.98
591
1926
263
$24 35
Start
Start
263
$24.35
8. IS
$0 785
270
25.05
261
$8 58
531
33.63
l.S. 90
1 . 20
174
1 58
1 Is
17.16
1 5 . 32
14.10
171
239
315
7.92
10.20
345
397
u\:\
23.04
23 . 24
24 . 30
11.12
13.23
1 4 . 93
.743
April
.774
May
.783
1 15
45
37
1 1 . 32
1 60
3.96
361
739
890
1 1 . 58
• ).) 92
27. 15
Start
80
98
Start
$7 in
9 01
476
864
1025
22.90
35.00
40.42
1 5 . 86
27.87
33.06
. 763
Julv
1.12
1 .30
September
68
6.44
952
29.31
117
10.45
1137
46.20
37.90
1 . 54
71
6.68
544
17.08
101
9 . 24
716
33.00
23 . 09
1.06
117
10.36
490
15 11
114
1 0 . 22
721
36.02
24.03
1 . 20
97
8 76
364
11.13
S3
7 73
544
27.62
17.54
.890
Year's total ....
1563
$148. 10
5326
$167.49
593
$54. 13
7482
$369. 72
Monthly average
130. 2
12.34
484 1
15.22
98.8
9.02
623.5
30.81
Daily average. . .
4.28
.41
15.94
502
3. 24
.296
20.50
$i.oi
Per cent
20.89fi
40.06'c
71.18r;
45.30rf
7.937<
14.647
1007c
Average rate per
$0. 094-7
$0.0314
$0.0912
$0. 0494
Seasonal
Dailv Averages
Jan., Feb.. Mar.
7 . 85
SO. 739
7.45
$0. 160
12.65
$0 . S99
Apr., Mav, June
4.62
. 117
10.5
326
Start
Start
14. IS
.773
Julv, Aug., Sept.
1 63
.163
28 0
866
3.20
$0 . 292
32.83
1 .321
Oct., Nov., Dec. .
3.09
.280
15. 19
.475
3 . 23
.295
21.51
1 . 050
IS
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
_ dAO
120
i
1D25
,«'
• ^
|
A//
e<yu/pme/7f
s
S
<
•
•
^
'-J
.-'■
/
s
-«
Light circuit
0
1 **
~*~
^
|
*
^
*
-1- *
d
^
I
i
\
b3
1120
1
1
)Z&
1040
960
flflO
m
l?flOO
>720
?640
o
\
*560
form totot
ott circuits
4fi0
\ A//
\eqtv/onoenf~
400
%
.120
/-/eot/ng
Cook/no
ooo /-?efr/ -
gerot/ar?
240
f-"^"V
160
| Light —f
c/rcu/t 1
\yl
ao
1 /
^
\
\
~^*
"^ ^ ^
^ +
s
^
L/g/lts ond
smaft a?ei//ces
I
rl/tk/ng
mocA/ne
and f^u/D/O
0
r
t-/eor
z/rcu/'f
i
,/rcu/t
=1 ^'
r~*
^ ^» ■
1
1
1
Fig. 6. Electric load for 1925 and 1926 on Farm No. 4.
very considerable increase will be noted during the warm months.
The power circuit has been installed for such a short time that the curve is
not paricularly important. The transfer of the milking machine and water
pump to this circuit is seen in the quick falling off of the light circuit curve.
The curve of total consumption shows clearly another case where a desirable
summer peak load and one of considerable size occurs. The load building effect
is also evident when compared to the consumption in 1925. The curves for the
two years in August show an increase in consumption of 925%. Comparatively
little farmstead equipment has as yet been developed on this place. Such short
term operations as ensilage cutting, wood sawing, etc., are hired out.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
19
FARM NO. 5 (FRUIT)
Fruit farms apparently offer less opportunities for electrification outside of the
home than any of the other types of farms considered. At the same time, some
of the problems arising such as dusting and spraying operations, insect trapping
by lights, cider presses, etc., are complex and will require special attention to
solve. This farm was the last one in the group to be equipped.
DESCRIPTION
Two-man farm. Family of two adults. Fourteen room house, with apart-
ment for hired man and family. Medium sized stock barn, two buildings
for handling and storing crop, garage, implement shed, ice house. 50 acres of
tillage, hilly with over 2.000 apple trees. Produced 1600 barrels in 1924. Ten
head of cattle, small flock of sheep, 2 horses, delivery car, pleasure car, modern
machinery. Farm located one mile from state road, two miles out from village.
Buildings wired in July, 1925. One extension of 1.5 miles carried service to 10
subscribers at a cost of $50 to $7.") each for construction. Transformer of 10
K. V. A.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
The following inventory shows new equipment in Italics.
Lighting and Power Circuit Equipment.
1. Wiring of house and barns $450.00
2. House lights — 52 outlets
3. Barn lights — 8 outlets
4. Waffle Iron $15.00; (5) Tablestove
6. Vacuum cleaner (June, 1926)
7. Sewing machine (Aug.. 1926)
5. Washing machine (Oct., 1926)
9. Water pump (Sept., 1926). 238.50
Installation costs and fu Id extension 182.35
S14.00
20 80
3.20
29 00
59 50
85.85
175 00
Heat Circuit
10
Equipment.
Group Total $1244.20
(Cost of luat circuit installation is included below).
II.
Kitchen raio/t
Installation costs (Sept., 1926) .
Household Refrigerator equipnn nt
Installation costs (April, 1926)
$173 60
97.40
325.00
22 30
All
Group Total $ 618 30
equipment total $1842.50
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Per cent of appliances
Per cent of total cost
Per cent of circuit cost
for appliances
Per cent of circuit cost
for installation
Lighting
'81 8
67 5
73 .2
26 .8
Heating
18.2
32 5
79.
21.
Household
63.7
82.2
Farmstead
36 3
17.8
Of the total equipment cost 76.1$ is for appliances and 23.9% for installation.
20
New Hampshire Experiment Station
| Bulletin 22S
Farm No. 5 — Current Consumption and Cost. Table 5 shows the current con-
sumption and cost on this farm from August, 1925, when electric service was
obtained, to December, 1926. During 1925 only lights and a flat iron were in use.
By the end of 1926 all equipment listed under "Equipment Costs" was in oper-
ation, but the electric range and water pump were not in service until fall and
does include the re-
in >m the record, which, however.
1926 does not
equipment has
indicate
been a
the increase that can
lowed to operate for a
are. therefore, omitted
frigerator equipment.
The total consumption even for
be expected when all of the same
full year.
While the development of a load on this farm has not progressed very far. and
wli.it work has been accomplished has been somewhat delayed, Fig. 7 gives an
indication of the tendency. The 1926 curve shows a pronounced peak at June,
due principally to refrigeration, and extending over the summer months. The
curve for 1927 will undoubtedly show quite an increase in this summer peak when
the electric range and water pump will be in full operation.
TABLE 5. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 5
1925
August
September
Ortober
November
Deeember
Total
Monthly average. . . .
Daily average
Average rate per kwh.
1 926
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Deeember
Total
Monthly average. . . .
Daily average
Average rate per kwh
Light and Power
Circuit
Kilowatt
Hours
14
20
28
30
58
150
30
la
40
2:',
35
59
48
:;:>
25
32
40
432
36
Cost
SI .60
2 . 20
2 84
3.00
5.24
$14.88
2.97
$0,099
$3 . SO
3.80
2.60
2.44
3.40
5.32
I 11
3.75
3 (in
2.60
3.16
3.80
$42. 11
3.50
$0.09
Daily Aver u;i.
Kilowatt
Hours
.451
.666
.903
1 .0
1.87
.978
1 .29
1 .425
.806
.766
1 .129
1 .966
1 .548
1.129
1 .0
.806
1 . 066
I . 29
1. 18
Cost
SO
0516
0733
,0916
,10
169
$0,097
SO. 122
.135
.0838
.0813
.1096
.1773
.1432
1209
.10
.0838
.1053
.122
$0. 115
March. 1927]
Electricity ox New England Farms
21
1
F5
<*
1
3
&
1
60
so
, i
>
equipment
lfe
40
/
/
/
30
/
/
/
?0
•
•
r/ectnc Serv-
ice /nsTa.'/ed
10
,-''
Light,
zircuit
1
§ 0
k
\
9k
»0
1
o
60
50
1
1
1
\
\
\
A//
equipment.
Liqnts one/
smo/> 'dei/ices
Pump. /?e -
fr/geration
40
1
1
M
\
\
\L/ghtarcuit\
.10
\
\
/
1
t
\
*-*.
S
•
/?0
\
>
^
f
/
/
'--.
s
10
0
-
Fig. 7. Electric load for 1925 and 1926 on Farm No. 5.
22 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 228
FARM NO. 6 (POULTRY)
DESCRIPTION
Three-man farm. Family of three adults, two children. Ten room brick
house. Hay and stock barn, garage, main laying house, and 20 brooder
houses and shelters. 180 acres of flat, sandy loam of which 30 are tillable. Lo-
cated one mile from town. 2500 laying hens, 20,000 to 25,000 broilers, 20,000 day
old chicks, 2 horses, 1 cow, 1 delivery car, 1 pleasure car, modern machinery.
6000 egg incubator using coal hot water heat. Buildings wired seven years. No
extra cost for line construction. Transformer of 7.5 K.V.A.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
The following inventory shows new equipment in Italics:
Light and Power Circuit Equipment
1. Wiring House and Barn $350.00
2. Wiring Poultry Buildings and Fixtures 210.00
3. House Lights— 34 Outlets 14.60
4. Barn and Poultry Lights— 30 Outlets 12.00
5. Washing Machine 150 . 00
6. Dishwasher 125.00
7. Waffle Iron $12.00; (8) Heating Pad $8.00 20.00
9. Vacuum Cleaner 60 00
10. Poultry Drinking Fountains (12) (tested only) 21 .00
11. Brooder (tested only) 20 00
12. Water Pump — installed price 135 . 00
Group Total $1117.60
Heat Circuit Equipment
General Heating Circuit Wiring (July, 1926) $ 51 . 10
13. Kitchen Range 285.00
Installation Cost (July, 1926) 93.40
14. Hot Water Heater 132.50
Installation Cost (July, 1926) 23.47
15. Household Refrigeration 250 . 00
Installation Cost (May, 1926) 18.70
16. Flat Iron 5.00
Group Total $ 859.17
All equipment total $1976 . 77
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Light
and Power Heating Household Farmstead
Per cent of appliances 75. 25. 68.8 31.2
Per cent of total cost 56.5 43.5 80. 20.
Per cent of circuit cost
for appliances 73. 78.3
Per cent of circuit cost
for installation 27. 21.7
Of the total equipment cost 76% is for appliances and 24% for installation.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
23
Farm No. 6 — Current Consumption and Costs. In considering the current con-
sumed, as shown in Table 6, it should be borne in mind that the house lights,
barn and poultry lights, washing machine, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, and
water pump were in use throughout both 1925 and 1926.
The heat circuit equipment was not installed until June, 1926, but in spite of
this fact the total current consumption for 1926 shows 599S kilowatt hours or an
increase of 520%.
Something of the influence of poultry lights is shown by the figures for the
winter months.
TABLE 6. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 6
1925
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year's total
Monthly average ...
Daily average
Average rate per kwh
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept ,
Oct., Nov., Dec
1926
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year's total
Monthly average
Daily average
Per cent
Average rate per kwh. . . .
Seasonal Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept
Oct., Nov., Dec
Light Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
23
08
58
91
61
47
45
51
60
53
09
958
79.83
197
200
114
69
171
is.",
69
41
49
51
52
80
1278
106.5
3.50
21.31%
5.67
4.67
1.72
1.98
Cost
(12.
7 .
9
5
7
51
02
.23
15
42
.12
20
lid
24
.60
16
$84.30
7.025
$0. 0879
$15.45
16.60
10.66
6.12
14.28
1 5 . 4.".
6.12
3 ss
4.52
4.68
4.76
7.00
$109. 52
9. 126
.30
44.23%
$0. 0856
$0
474
393
157
178
Heat Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Cost
Heat Circuit
Installed
680
840
890
760
nun
4720
393.3
25.86
78. 69%
Start
22 . 39
28.91
H5.15
20.14
24.70
26.12
22.42
29 . 54
$138.07
11.50
.757
55. 77%
$.02925
Start
$0,652
.848
Monthly Total
All Circuits
Kilo-
watt
Hours
197
200
114
69
171
185
609
721
XS9
941
812
1090
5998
499.8
100%
Cost
S 1 5 . 45
16 60
10.66
6.12
14.2S
15.45
21.27
24.02
29.22
:;o.,s<>
27.18
36.54
$247. 59
20.63
$0.0412
Daily Average
All Circuits
Kilo-
watt
Hours
4 . 90
I 39
3.48
1 ,93
2 93
2.03
1 .51
1 1.5
1 .7
1 .93
1.76
:: 51
2.62
4 . 2.5
2.30
1 . .5.5
2 . 40
6.36
7.14
3.67
2.3
5.51
6.16
19.64
2:1.25
29.63
30 . 35
27.06
35.16
16.43
5.67
4.67
24.11
30.89
Cost
1.411
268
.290
. 174
.230
. ISO
.165
.167
. 1 86
.21)1
186
305
$0. 2309
$0,325
.195
. 1 ~:\
. 230
$0 498
.592
.343
.204
.460
. 5 1 5
.686
.774
.974
.996
.906
1.17
$0,678
£0.474
.393
.809
1.03
24
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
1
160
192
5
Form total
Light circuit
SO
A//
equipment
0
>.
*
F
e
8
J
x
*
^
^
^
\
8
1
§
1120
I04O
1!
?2
6
A//
equipment
|
960
//eating and
Cooking
opp/ionces
aao
in
V aoo
K 720
o
< 640
560
A&O
400
//e
c/rc
ot
uit
320
240
165
SO
Farm fota/
a// circu/fs
M
— ,
****
i /
L/g/7t
r c/rcu/f
ft
f/
/ %
Lights and
sma// devices
0
^••?
t
/
^,
.-'■
1
Fig. 8. Electric load for 1925 and 1926 on Farm No. 6.
The light consumption during the winter months, as shown in Fig. 8, rises as
high as might be expected, considering that poultry lights are used.
The sudden rise in the heat circuit from November to December is due to
experimental operation of certain equipment. Normally the curve would con-
tinue to decline somewhat at this season.
The curve of total consumption follows very closely the heating circuit curve
from June to the end of 1926.
March, 1927] Electricity on New England Farms 25
FARM NO. 7 (POULTRY)
DESCRIPTION
Three to four-man farm. Family of five adults and one child. Twelve room
house, three story poultry barn, machinery storage barn, four laying houses,
21 brooder houses, repair shop, pump house and ice house. 184 acres of which
70 are tillable. 2600 laying hens, 15,000 broilers and an annual hatch of 20,000
chicks. 3 horses, 1 cow, 1 delivery truck. 1 pleasure car, modern machinery,
6,000 egg incubator, using coal-hotwater heat. 450 apple trees. Broilers and
fresh eggs shipped to Boston and New York. Farm two miles from town.
Buildings wired over 10 years without extra line cost. Transformer of 10 K.V.A.
EQUIPMENT COSTS
The following inventory shows new equipment in Italics.
Light Circuit Equipment
1. Wiring house and buildings (estimated) $400.00
2. House lights— 40 outlets 16.00
3. Barn lights— 20 outlets 8.00
4. Washing machine 155.00
5. Percolator $7.50; (6) Curling Iron $3.00; (7) Toaster $5.00 15.50
8. Sewing machine motor drive (Aug., 1926) 22.40
9. Radiant Heater $9.50; (10) Vacuum (leaner $60.00 69.50
Croup Total $686.40
Heat Circuit Equipment
General Wiring on heat circuit $107.43
11. Kitchen range (June, 1926) 244.00
Installation cost 82.70
12. Household refrigeration 495.00
Installation cost (May, 1926) 25.20
13. Ironer (June, 1926) 160.00
Installation cost 8.68
14. Hot water heater— (June, 1926) 64.50
Installation cost 19.18
15. Flat Iron 5.25
Group Total $1211.94
Power Circuit Equipment.
16. Motor drive for water pump (June, 1926) $109.75
Installation cost including 12 pole extension 162.92
17. Motor drive, for shop equipment (June, 1926) 75.00
Installation cost 16.70
18. Feed mixer and elevator 175.00
Installation cost (Oct., 1926 and Jan., 1927) 59 00
19. Ultra-violet ray equipment ( Experimental only) 150 00
20. 5 h. p. portable utility motor (July, 1926) 275.00
Installation cost 23.42
21. Han fork hoist 122.77
Installation cost (July, 1926) 7.83
Group Total $1177.39
All equipment — total $3075.73
DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS
Lighting Heating Power Household Farmstead
Per cent of appliances 47.6 23.8 28.6 66 6 33.4
Per cent of total cost 22.8 38.2 39. 55.8 44.2
Per cent of circuit cost
for applances 80.6 80. 77.2
Per cent of circuit cost
for installation 19.4 20. 22.8
Of the total equipment cost 81.5% is for appliances and 18.5% for installation.
26
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
Farm No. 7 — Current Consumption and Costs. During 1925 only the light-
ing circuit equipment was in use, but in 1926 the rest of the equipment was in-
stalled in time to be available for use when most needed except for the water
pump which was not in operation until June and the ironer which was placed
in service in May.
The feed mixer and elevator and the ultra-violet ray equipment were in the
experimental stage and were not used consistently.
The total consumption for 1926, shown in Table 7, is an increase of 100% over
TABLE 7. Current Consumption and Costs for 1925 and 1926 — Farm No. 7
1925
January. . .
February. .
March
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . . .
November.
December .
Year's total ....
Monthly average
Daily average. . .
Average rate per
kwh
Seasonal
Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar. .
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept.
Oct., Nov., Dec. .
1926
January. . .
February . .
March
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October. . .
November.
December .
Year's total . .
Monthly average
Daily average.
Per cent
Average rate per
kwh
Seasonal
Daily Averages
Jan., Feb., Mar.
Apr., May, June
July, Aug., Sept
Oct., Nov., Dec.
Light Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
134
103
89
49
45
45
32
40
44
75
139
275
1070
89. 1
235
204
108
64
46
14
24
22
25
34
66
176
1018
84.8
2.78
47.51%,
6.07
1 .36
.771
3.00
Cost
$17.92
12. S6
11.18
6. 38
5.90
5.90
4.34
5.30
5.78
9 . 50
17.18
33.50
$135.74
11.31
$0. 1268
$28.70
24.98
13.46
8.24
6.02
1.93
3.38
3.14
3.50
4.58
8.42
21.62
$127.97
10.66
.35
62.29%,
$0.1257
$0,746
.177
.108
.376
Heat Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Start
40
40
201
221
185
184
39
26
936
117
3.82
43.67%,
Start
1 .31
6.59
2.70
Cost
0.23
2.90
2.65
9.34
0.14
8.70
8.66
2.86
2.34
$47.82
5.97
.195
23.26%,
$0.0510
Start.
$0.09
.306
.150
Power
Circuit
Kilo-
watt
Hours
Cost
Start
24
50
49
23
22
14
7
. . « .
Start
$4.10
5.40
5.35
4.05
4.00
3.60
3.25
189
27
.883
8.82%
$29. 75
4.24
.139
14. 45%
$0.1574
St
1
art
.32
.467
S
so
tart
16(
.11'
)
Total
All Circuits
Kilo-
watt
Hours
235
204
108
64
86
78
275
292
233
240
119
209
2143
178.5
100%,
Cost.
$28 . 70
24.98
13.46
8.47
8.92
8.68
18.12
IS. 63
16.25
1 7 . 24
14.88
27.21
$205. 54
17.12
$0. 0959
Daily Average
All C
IRCUITS
Kilo-
watt
Cost
Hours
4.32
$0,578
3.67
. 459
2.S7
.360
1.63
.212
1.45
.190
1.50
.196
1 03
.14(1
1.29
.170
1.46
.190
2.41
. 306
4.63
.572
8.87
1.08
2.93
$0.37
3.62
$0,466
1.52
.199
1.26
.165
5.31
.654
7.58
$0,925
7.28
892
3.48
434
2.13
282
2.77
287
2.60
289
8.87
585
9.41
600
7.76
541
7.74
556
3 . 96
496
6.74
877
5.87
$0,563
6.07
$0,746
2.67
.267
8.68
.574
6.17
643
March, 1927]
Electricity ox New England Farms
1
1
I
.
-
0:
1
^
8
k
k
0
_2flQ
2ao
£40
I
'zoo.
i
/
/
fc
|jao
i
/
/
i
0
s 160
i
/
i
140
i
i
Light circuit
on/u
i?o
i
/
/
/
IOO
V
/
/
/
/
AO
>
\
\
/
/
/
1
60
i
/
/
/
40
\
>
*N
^ -
/
/
/
eo
N
.-'"
o
Fig. 9. Electric load for 1925 on Farm No. 7.
1925. The difference in value in the lighting circuit for the second year is due
principally to transfer of some equipment to other circuits.
The lighting circuit curves for both 1925 and 1926, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10,
are much the same and indicate a well fixed plan of operation. The high con-
sumption at the beginning and end of the year shows clearly the load resulting
from poultry lights used systematically and in sufficient amount.
The bulk of the load from the heating circuit was between June and November
with a fairly consistent high consumption between July and October. The volume
28
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 22S
1
S
I
1
\
\
^
^
\
k
8
^
3
260
£60
2.40
Farm total
a// circuits
All
equipment
3 £0C
\i
0
1 JflQ
\
it
k
I /
f i
k
k I6C
Light circuit
L ights and
smo/l devices
I
p 140
\\
\\
\\
1 /
/ /
IPO
\1
\\
\1
f /
/ /
f /
IOO
V
\
\
' /
/
/
so
/
/
/
_ eo
V
\/
1
4-G
IX
\
L/
^" — —
\
/ \
2C
1
\.
r
/
t/ec/t/ng ond
Cooking
c
...
/■
N,
—-
\
Rump ond
Flower circuit
Power
devices
•
Fig. 10. Electric load for 1926 on Farm No. 7.
of canning, baking and preserving for a family of six is clearly evident. The
equipment was not used extravagantly; in fact rather careful attention was given
to the current consumed.
Aside from the shop equipment and water pump the greater part of the power
circuit equipment has not passed out of the experimental stage. The time that
this circuit lias been operating is limited, but apparently a summer peak load
may be expected if such short term operations as hay hoisting are made prac-
tical.
The increase in total consumption for the month of July amounts to 7607c
in favor of the 1926 curve, showing again the effect of load building.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
29
CONCLUSIONS
The data given in Tabic 8 for the seven farms as a group show an average
increase in consumption less than in three individual cases and more than in the
four remaining, and indicate thai the farm load in general can be materially
increased.
The average 1925 consumption for all the seven farms of 1683 kilowatt hours
increased to 4253 kwhs. in 1926. This increase of 152% is in spite of several dif-
ferent conditions. Farms 2 and 3 showed little or no increase due to being well
equipped from the start; on the fruit farm. Xo. 5. only a small load could be
built and the poultry farms. Nos. 6 and 7, did not gel started until May and
June. Farms 1 and 4 were operating for the full year. The variation ranges
from a 520'/^ increase to a 3.29< decrease. The latter is of no particular signif-
icance, being. only a normal fluctuation in production or efficiency.
TABLE 8. Kilowatt Hour Consumption on All Experimental Farms for 1925 and 1926
Farm
No. 1
(Dairy 1
Farm
No. 2
(Dairy)
Farm
No. 3
(Dairy)
Farm
No 4
(Dairy)
Farm
No. 5
(Fruit)
Farm
No. 6
(Poultry)
Farm
No. 7
(Poultry)
Average
All
Farms
Total 1925
Kirl,
1672
769 l
360%
Kwhs.
3362
3252
3.2%
decrease
Kwhs.
2332
.'770
12%
Kwhs.
2036
7482
267%
Knhs.
300*
432
14%*
Kwhs.
958
5998
520%
Kwhs.
1070
21 13
100%
Kwhs.
1683
Total 1 026 ....
4253
Per cent increase
152%
Average monthly J 1025.. .
consumption. . 1 1926.. .
1 39 . .3
641 .1
280.1
271
104.3
230 . 8
169.6
623.5
30*
36
79.83
499.8
89.1
178.5
136.5
354.3
Seasonal Daily Averages
1925
:; 16
2.13
•1 . 3 1
7.56
5 21
10.55
12.58
- 12
7 . 27
5 . 1 3
5.71
7.45
6.00
5.73
3.45
6.98
1 25
2 30
1 . 55
2.40
3.62
1.52
1.26
5.31
4.92
Spring
4.56
4.81
Fall
6.35
1920
Winter
13.22
17.5
28.9
24.23
5 . 39
0 , 70
11 .72
8 65
7 . 93
7.37
7.11
7.5s
12.65
14.18
32 . 83
21 .51
5.67
l.e,7
24 . 1 1
30.89
6.07
2.67
8.68
6.17
13.40
Spring
9.36
18.95
Fall
16.50
Average rate < .„.,,.
$0.(170
.045
$0,101
.104
$0,071
.070
$0,085
.1110
$0,099
.09
$0.0 vs
.041
$0 . 1 26
.096
$0,003
.071
* Estimated for a 12 months basis.
The consumption in each of the winter, spring and summer seasons of 1925
remained quite steadily in the neighborhood of 23f A of the total for the year, and
increased to about 31% in the fall. In 1926 the total consumption of all farms
was distributed with 23% in the winter. 16rf in the spring, 32% in the summer
and 28$ in the fall.
Comparing the two years, an increase in consumption occurred generally in all
seasons, but most markedly in the summer, amounting to 292% for the seven
farms, and showing how the peak of the farm load has been shifted to that sea-
son. Heating circuit equipment including refrigeration, electric ranges and water
heaters are so far principally responsible.
The average rate for all seven farms in 1925 of 9 3-10 cents was reduced to
7 1-10 cents in 1926. Two companies reduced their rates during 1926 which had
some effect in this direction; but the fact that with greater consumption there is
usually a sliding scale to reduce the cost should not be overlooked. In fact,
this is a point of consequence to those who can use electricity in considerable
quantity.
30 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 228
Figures from the projects in other sections, organized in a similar way, may be
of general interest at this point, though it should be recalled that all projects
in this field are in varying stages of development. The average annual consump-
tion on the Red Wing experimental line, Minnesota project, for ten consumers
was 3,362 kilowatt hours for the year April, 1925, to March, 1926, or 280 kwhs.
per month. A survey of 414 farms of all types using electricity in Virginia (non
experimental) showed an average annual consumption per farm of 573.5 kilowatt
hours, or 47.8 kwhs. per month. The Whitesburgh Pike line, a practical rural
extension on the Alabama project, having 10 farmer customers, averaged 1050
kwhs. per farm in 1925 or 87.5 kwhs. per month. A six months record from the
Illinois project shows that for the ten farms under test each consumed an ave-
rage total of 1445 kilowatts or 241 kwhs. per month, indicating a possible total
of 2890 kwhs. per year or thereabouts. The South Dakota test line consisting of
17' farms had, in the first year of operations, an average consumption per farm
per year of 785 kwhs. or 65 kwhs. per month*
While, as previously stated, the New Hampshire experimental farms are not
meant to represent average conditions, the possibilities of building an apprecia-
ble electric load on farms in New England appear to be very favorable. Further-
more, the number of customers per mile of line is probably greater in New Eng-
land than in other sections due to the smaller farms and generally more dense
population, making a more desirable condition for rural extensions. From the
data thus far it would seem that the farm house is the logical starting point in
applications, and that further research and development of applications is de-
sirable, especially for farmstead operations.
While the records are still too limited to draw many detailed conclusions,
some general tendencies appear more or less fixed.
The lighting circuits on all except poultry farms do not vary greatly, except in
the time of fluctuations, from those of any home. On poultry farms this con-
sumption may rise considerably in the winter if poultry lights are used. This
practice occurs at dusk and dawn, however, which brings it on the edges of the
city night load.
At the present time power circuits, operating milking machines, water pumps
and short term operations seem to have little well defined regularity throughout
the year. While the consumption is quite irregular, it does remain within cer-
tain limits, in most cases, without any pronounced peaks. This is logical con-
sidering the type of equipment operated from it.
Heating equipment, such as refrigeration, ranges, ironers, water heaters, etc.,
produces the greatest effect in the total consumption and develops peak load in
midsummer. Except in cases where only straight electric ranges are used, this
circuit will taper off to a very small amount in the cold months. Where elec-
tricity is used for cooking the year around, a very appreciable consumption should
take place, still coming to a peak in midsummer. If low winter consumption as
well as high summer consumption is desirable, the combination range, which will
probably be most popular with the majority of farmers, would probably produce
this effect. At the same time if the cost of operating electric water heaters
proves prohibitive, the above type of range makes it possible to care for this
service for most of the year.
Reviewing the curves of total consumption, the peaks occurring in midsummer
are repeated sufficiently to emphasize the point that they are characteristic of
the farm load. The dairy farms, in general, tend to fall off in use in the winter
months.
Poultry farms follow the same general trend until poultry lighting starts in
the fall, which may bring in another peak in January. Fruit farms will probably
have characteristics similar to dairy farms but with less total consumption.
The rural load is almost entirely a daytime load. Except for such appliances
as refrigerators and water heaters, which may be run automatically, the farm
practically stands at no load for most of the night. The former draw compar-
atively little current and the latter are seldom run automatically.
The appliances in use have three fairly definite characteristics; namely, (1)
intermittent operation for short periods of time; (2) regularity in time of use;
(3) operation to near full capacity of machine. This is, of course, exclusive of
machines set for automatic operation.
•Figures are from C.R.E.A. bulletins 7, 6, and S, Vol. II; 1926 report of Illinois project;
and South Dakota Ext. Cir. 232.
March, 1927] Electricity ox New England Farms 31
RATES AND CIRCUITS
The rates used on the farms in the experimental group are those prevailing in
the territory in which the farm is located. Special study of the subject of rates
is not included in the plan of the project, and no particular material has been
collected.
It appears that most of the utility companies in making a rate for rural cus-
tomers have taken one of their established rates for city consumers and applied
it, to the rural extensions, temporarily. Inasmuch as the rural business of most
of these companies has been comparatively small and adequate information on
the subject scarce, very few have made a special rate which would be particularly
adapted to this class of business. For this reason some of the rates in use at
the present time are not entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of the farmer,
while in other cases the rate may be quite practical.
That lighting and heating rates, or their equivalent in the form of a combina-
tion schedule, are practical and should be available to rural customers seems to
be apparent, but just what position should be taken as regards what might be
called power appliances is not so evident at present. Experience indicates that
there is probably no advantage in using the usual commercial power schedule,
which has not been drawn up for this type of load, for the purpose of providing
service at a reduced rate. The characteristics of the power load are sufficiently
different from those of commercial organizations to warrant separate considera-
tion.
A combination rate, allowing the use of light, heat and power appliances and
requiring but one meter, has some attractive features in this respect.
APPLICATIONS
The following pages give a brief description of the various individual appli-
ances in use on tin1 farms, current consumption or cost of operation, where it has
been obtained, and some observations on the operation and use. For the sake
of brevity the material is not given in detail. More complete information will
appear in other reports.
CO-OPERATING MANUFACTURERS FURNISHING EQUIPMENT
The manufacturers co-operating by furnishing equipment on the consignment basis for the experi-
ments are as follows: — Standard (las Equipment Corporation, Aurora, 111.; Malleable Iron Range Com-
pany. Beaver Dam. Wis.; The Mayt:m Company, Newton, Iowa; Sepco-Automatic Klectric Heater Co.,
Warren, Penn.; Graybar Electric Company, New York City; Duro Pump Company of Boston, Boston,
Mass.; Cooper, Hewitt Electric Co., Hoboken, N. J.; Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich.; The
IceMaster Company, Haverhill, Mass.; The Gould Manufacturing Co., Boston, Mass.; Syracuse Washing
Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y.; F. S. Hardy & Company, Boston, Mass.; F. E. Myers & Brothers
Company, Ashland, Ohio; General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.; The Oakes Manufacturing
Co., Tipton, Ind.; Lindemann & Hoverson Company, Milwaukee, Wis.; Westinghouse Electric & Mfg.
Co., East Pittsburgh, Penn.; Eden Washer Corporation, New York City; Electric Household Utilities
Corp., Boston, Mass.; Edison Electric Appliance Co., Chicago, 111.; Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain,
Conn.; Deere & Company, Moline, 111.; Singer Sewing Machine Co., New York City; Manning Bowman
& Company, Meriden, Conn.; Fanstool Products Company and John P. Ilainbault Co., New York City;
American Ironing Machine Co., Chicago, 111.; Detroit Battery Charger Co., Detroit, Mich.; Delco-Light
Company, Dayton, Ohio; The Emerson Electric Mfg. Co., St. Louis, Mo.; Electric Controller Co., Green-
field. Ind.; Loudon Machinery Co.. Albany, N. Y.; G. W. & C. A. Lane, Exeter, N. H.; The Russell Electric
Co., Chicago, 111.; The Ilg Electric Ventilating Co., Boston, Mass. and Chicago, 111.; Wagner Electric
Corporation. Boston, Mass.; Wellington J. Smith Co., Cleveland, Ohio; The Gillette Clipping Machine
Co., Inc., New York City. Others Pending.
POWER & LIGHT COMPANIES RENDERING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
Assistance rendered by the following electric companies, serving the experimental farms, has been par-
ticularly helpful.
Concord Electric Co. (Penacook branch), Concord, N. H.; Hampshire Road Power & Light Co., Salem,
N. H; Grafton County Power & Light Co., Lebanon, N. H; Twin State Cas & Electric Co., Dover, N. H;
Contoocook Electric Co., Contoocook, N. H; Franklin Light & Power Co., Franklin, N. H.; Exeter &
Hampton Electric Co., Exeter, N. H; Lawrence Gas & Electric Co., Lawrence, Mass.
32
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
FARM HOME EQUIPMENT
House Wiring. Sec Item No. 1 in each list of "Equipment Costs". The ten-
dency of regulations and codes in New England is to require wiring to be done
by a licensed and approved electrical contractor.
House Lighting. This is the most common use of electricity and usually the
first to be suggested by an applicant for service. Properly installed, electric lights
should be an aid in reducing the heavy loss from fire that occurs annually on
New England farms.
Such devices as curling irons, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, waffle irons
and flat irons are commonly operated from a lamp socket.
The farm homes range in size from ten to fifteen rooms. While 60 to 75 watt
lamps will be found in locations used considerably, the 40 watt size is the most
common.
The many advantages of this system of lighting are too well known to require
discussion, but much can still be accomplished in the way of education in correct
and efficient illumination.
Maximums, as shown in Table 9. occur from late December to early February.
The minimums occur, for the most part, in August.
TABLE 9. House Lighting Records on Experimental Farms
30 Day Periods Approximate
Kilowatt Hours
Farm
( (utlets
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
25
12
58
32.4
January to December '26
2
25
6
26
15.2
August '25 to December '26
3
55
11
59
35
July '25 to December '26
4
42
28
54
63.3
February to December '26
0
52
20
58
33.6
August '25 to December '26
6
34
IS
52
36
June to December '26
7
40
8
50
26.6
May to December '26
Average
39
14.7
51
34.6
Sewing Machines. The current consumed by motor-driven sewing machines
is so small as to be difficult of accurate measurement and records are not given
at this time. The labor of which they relieve the woman of the house, however,
is quickly appreciated.
One standard portable machine and three standard type machines with attach-
able motor drive are in operation on the farms.
Vacuum Cleaners. Each farm is equipped with a vacuum cleaner which is
now considered as a necessary piece of equipment. Information on operation and
cost will be available. Fly trapping is an interesting new use for this appliance.
One housewife rids the house and milk-room of flies by attaching the hose noz-
zle and moving it past the flies at dusk or dawn when they are still sluggish.
They quickly disappear.
Water Supply. Very little question exists as to the improved efficiency of a
water supply system operated by electric motor power; and while a long exten-
sion may involve a heavy first cost, the investment relieves the farmer of a great
deal of trouble. On the dairy farms, large quantities of water are used for wash-
ing utensils, for steam boilers and for milk cooling. Applications on the farms
are as follows:
Farm No. 1. A shallow well, automatic pump, furnishing water to the entire
farm through a pneumatic tank system. One bathroom in the house.
Farm No. 3. A shallow well pump furnishing water for household use only
(bathroom in house) from a storage tank in the attic.
Farm No. 4. Deep well pump drawing water from 7.~> ft. artesian well and
supplying house (no bathroom) and barns. Drinking cups are used for the
cows.
Farm No. 5. A deep well pump is required in this case to elevate the water
from a shallow well to a concrete storage tank on the hill above. A windmill is
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
also connected. Water is supplied to house (has bathroom) and barns by gravity.
A large quantity is required for spraying the fruit trees at critical times, and the
electric pump furnishes a dependable supply.
Farm No. 7. A heavy duty pump which forces water from a meadow spring
into an elevated tank on a hill, from which it flows by gravity to supply house,
barns and poultry buildings.
/•'"/-/// No. 0. Shallow well pump and small pneumatic tank or "fresh-from-
thc-well" supply system furnishing house (has bathroom), barns and poultry
buildings.
No well defined regularity is apparent in the
sumption of current for water supplies. This is
tions locally, such as difference in wells, lack of
stock in pasture, etc.
The motors used range from 1-6 to \xfa H. P.
maximum and minimum con-
due to the variation in condi-
rainfall, methods of handling
TABLE 10. Water Pump Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Head of
Stock
Supplied
Family
of
30 Day Period Approximate
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
\\ crage
1
3
4
5
7
6
48
29
IS*
*
*
6
5
ti
2
5
6
2»;
3
20
15
:
9
43
5
61
38
48
22
39
3.7
35
23
25 . it
15.5
January to December '26
July '25 to December '26
November '25 to December '26
September to December '26
June to December '26
May to December '26
Average
5
13.3
36
23.7
* Refer to Farm Description.
Electric Ranges. Six electric ranges are in use. Two general types are
represented, — the straight electric range and the combination range which has a
compartment for burning wood or coal. On two farms the electric range is used
in addition to a wood or coal range. All ranges operate from separate heat
circuits, or the equivalent, to obtain lower rates.
Farm No. 1. A straight electric range has been the only means of cooking for
over a year. It is equipped with four surface plates, one large and one small
oven, automatic time and temperature controls, master switch, automatic oven,
ventilation and convenience outlet. The connected load is 9,000 watts.
Farm No. 6. A straight electric range has been the only means of cooking for
five months. It is equipped with four surface plates, one large and one small
oven, automatic time and temperature control and master switch. The con-
nected load is 8,500 watts.
Farm No. 4. A combination coal-electric range assists the furnace in heating
a large exposed kitchen. The coal fire-box. having two surface lids, may also be
used for burning wood, and is equipped with a water front for heating hot water.
(An electric water heater is also in use.) The electric section of the range is
equipped with four surface units and standard size oven. As there is no oven
heated by the firebox, it is necessary to do all oven baking and cooking by
electricity. No automatic controls are used and the regulation of temperature
is accomplished manually, guided by an oven thermometer.
Farm No. 3. A very complete combination wood-electric range is in use. The
wood burning section has four surface lids and also heats a standard size oven.
Brass coils in the fire-box provide hot water which is heated electrically when the
fire is out, or in emergency. Three surface plates and a separate oven are heated
electrically. No automatic controls are used; temperatures are maintained man-
ually through the three-way switches guided by an oven indicator. Under the
existing condition the electric section holds the position of an auxiliary cooking
unit which is utilized only during the extremely warm days of summer, for
emergency, or to meet the requirements in a rush season, such as canning time,
when all heating equipment is needed.
34
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 22S
Farm No. -5. A wood range has been retained to heat the kitchen, and a
separate electric range installed. The electric range has three surface burners, a
standard size oven, master switch and automatic time and temperature controls.
This has been installed for so short a time that the records are withheld.
Records for the five farms are given in Table 11.
Farm No. 7. In the large kitchen both a regulation wood range, supplement-
ing the furnace, and an electric range are used. The volume of work carried on
indicates that the combined capacity of the two ranges is advisable. The elec-
tric range has four surface plates, one large and one small oven, a warming
closet, and automatic time and temperature controls.
TABLE 11. Kitchen Range Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Number
Family
of
Type of liange
30 Day Periods
Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
3
4
5
7
6
6
5
6
2
5
6
Straight electric. . . .
Combination (wood)
Combination (coal) .
Electric range with
wood range
Electric range with
wood range
Straight electric. . , .
96
4
171
No
14
244
28 1
102
429
records as
140
295
196
26
282
yet
74
260
December '25 to December '26
August '25 to December '26
January to December '26
October to December '26
June to I )ecember '26
July to December '26
Average
all types
5
106
234
167
Both types of ranges are found practical and more desirable for cooking than
coal or wood ranges by the housewives. Cost of operation is not considered ex-
cessive.
Initial cost of equipment is probably a greater factor with rural buyers than
with city residents.
While the availability of wood seems to have had no pronounced influence for
or against the installation of electric ranges, it does have a marked influence on
the type of range selected and the resulting current consumption.
Farm ranges are required to carry maximum loads very frequently; therefore
rugged construction is desirable. A master switch for protecting the appliance
during electrical storms should be required, if not provided by the manufacturer.
Black enamel or black enamel with white panel trim is recommended for dur-
ability and ease of cleaning.
Automatic controls, both time and temperature, are undoubtedly very impor-
tant for economical operation, and arc to be recommended. The lack of such
control on Farm No. 4 is undoubtedly responsible in part for the relatively
heavy current consumption.
Local conditions, such as heating the kitchen, providing large quantities of
hot water and the local fuel situation, are important to consider.
Year-around baking, summer canning and cooking extra heavy meals for sum-
mer help are the outstanding uses.
The total current consumption of ranges in farm homes will probably be
higher than those operated in the city due to the greater amount of cooking
done. The maximum consumption shown in the table occurred regularly in
August and September. The minimum varies from December to April.
Fireless Cooker. Fireless cookers appear to be of little practical value after
the installation of an electric range, due to the fact that the range ovens are able
to do even more than the cooker is capable of. No record of a fireless cooker
used alone is available at present.
Household Refrigeration. Electric household refrigeration appears now to be
an outstanding success. Its many advantages are as fully recognized by the
farmer and his wife as by any city user.
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
oo
Farm Xo. 1. This commercial unir consists of a refrigerator of 0V2 cubic feet
capacity with the mechanical equipment mounted in the base. It is located in
the kitchen where it is subjected to average house temperatures. The cabinet is
metal, cork-lined. The equipment is operated 12 months of the year.
Farm No. 2. The refrigerator is built mto the house with an ice-filling door
out through the wall to permit outside icing in the past. It was built by a local
carpenter and contains no insulation. It is considerably larger than the average
refrigerator in cubic feet of storage space. During the winter months the cur-
rent is shut off and natural temperatures utilized by means of the outside door.
Farm No. 4. A small section of the dairy cooling room is finished in cabinet
form for the storage of food. The room is within reasonable distance of the
kitchen door so that the plan has proved very practical. The cooling room is
somewhat larger in size, and the cost of operation is increased in proportion.
(See Cooling Room No. 4.) It is planned to operate nine months with elec-
tricity and three months with natural temperatures.
Farm No. 5. The refrigerator contains 11 1-3 cubic feet storage space and has
no special insulating material in its wall construction. It is located in a mod-
erately cool room and used lor only nine months out of the year. The com-
pressor unit is in the basemenl immediately underneath.
Farm Xo. 6. The refrigerator contains about o'L> cubic feet storage space and
is well insulated with cork. Twelve months operation is practiced against aver-
age house temperature-.
Farm No. 7. This is a cork insulated, wood case, commercially made, electric
refrigerator, witli the mechanical unit built into the cabinet. It has nine cubic
feet, of storage capacity and operates in a room which stands at average house-
hold temperature. The equipment is used for only nine months of the year.
TABLE 12. House Refrigerator Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Family
of
30 Day Pkkiods Approximately
Km < >u \rr i I ours
1 Ixtent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
2
4
5
6
7
6
3
6
2
5
6
30
0
0
0
17
40
97
House Refrig
(See X
:;:,
85
56
37.8
39.5
erator combin
0. 4, Dair\ ( '
23
37.2
39
August to December '26
August '25 to December '26
ed with Dairy Cooler
ooling Room)
August to December '26
June to December '26
May to December '26
Average
5
9.4
62.5
35.3
Any well-made refrigerator, if properly insulated, is believed suitable, but
proper insulation is an important factor in economical operating costs. No
specific size is in demand though boxes of somewhat larger size than those used
by the average city family are favored.
The operation of the refrigerators for nine months and the utilizing of natural
temperatures for the remaining three is at present the most common practice.
Two farms, however, are already operating on a 12-months basis, and this will
be more generally practiced, as the advantages and economy in food spoilage
from using a controlled temperature are appreciated.
Maximum consumption for household refrigerators occurs during July, August
or September. Where used for 12 months under excessively warm conditions,
this might not hold true. Minimum consumption is reached in the cold "months.
Dishwashers. Two dishwashers of the propeller type have been in use for a
considerable length of time on two of the farms. One is considered by the
housewife practical, while the use of the other has been discontinued.
Farm Xo. 3. This machine is rectangular in shape, having one removable
rack large enough to hold the dishes from a family of five. One teakettle of
water is required for washing and one for rinsing. Dishes are as easily placed in
tin washer as in a dishpan and may be left in the rack to steam dry. A common
soap powder is used. The water is drawn off through a spigot valve, which may
36
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
be connected with the plumbing if desired. When not in use the machine forms
a table surface by means of a hinged cover. Two kilowatt-hours per month is
regularly used for washing the dishes three times a day.
Farm No. 6. This washer is circular in shape and contains two racks, one
above the other, for holding the dishes. The washing action is satisfactory, but
the housewife feels that she can handle the dishes in the dishpan with the same
amount of effort and does not have to take care of the washer after the opera-
tion is over. Use of the machine has been discontinued.
The development of a dishwasher which will meet general approval in prac-
tical use is of great interest to the farm housewife because of the quantity of
dishes handled. The failure to handle pots, pans and kettles is the most common
disadvantage mentioned. The quantity of water required is important, and the
propeller washing action is very effective.
Successful operation appears to involve the size and shape of the machine and
the rack for holding the dishes. One single rack of large capacity is desirable.
Kitchen Ventilating Fans. One such device is in use and is found to be very
effective in removing cooking odors, steam and gases from the kitchen. Fans are
generally furnished mounted on a panel which is easily attached to a window in
such a way that the sash may be opened or closed as desired. Records of cur-
rent consumption and use will be available.
Electric Water Heaters. Results obtained from the use of electric water
heaters emphasize the need of consideration from two distinct angles: (1) the
degree of mechanical and electrical efficiency of the heater itself; and (2) the
cost of operation. It appears now that the latter point is the limiting factor to
their adoption and successful use.
The heaters in use in the experiment have given, without exception, a very
high grade service. The only difficulty experienced during the past season was
one case of a loose connection — a fault of installation.
Farm No. 1. This complete unit consists of a 15-gallon insulated tank with
automatic and manual current control, so that a continuous supply may be main-
TABLE 13. Hot Water Heater Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Family
of
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
Extent of Record
1
3
4
7
6
6
5
6
5
6
116
3
5
480
280
41
280
26
580
191
1 5 . 2
139
15
548
June to December 'L'fi
July to December '26
June to December '26
June to December '26
July to December '26
Average
120
241
182
tained or water may be heated as needed. The equipment is located in the bath-
room, and furnishes hot water also for the kitchen a short distance away. Water
is heated only as needed during the week, and on days when a large amount of
water is used is heated automatically. No other water heater is used.
Farm No. 3. A circulation type healer is attached to the original 30 gallon,
uninsulated range boiler, and is used only as an auxiliary, for emergency or in
the warm summer months. Insulation of the tank was omitted because of its
constant exposure to the heat of the range. The bulk of the hot water used dur-
ing the year is heated from a coil in the firebox of the combination range. Water
is supplied to the kitchen and bath. The current is turned on and off by hand.
Farm No. 4. A circulation-type heater is attached to a 30-gallon range boiler
which furnishes water to the kitchen only. The boiler has been uninsulated for
the past season due to its close proximity to the firebox of the combination range.
The electric heater is used mostly during the summer months and in emergencies.
The current is turned on and off manually, for the most part, to reduce the cost
of operation.
March. 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
37
Farm No. 7. This is also a circulation type heater connected to a 40-gallon in-
sulated kitchen range boiler, which furnishes water to the kitchen and bathroom.
It is used as an auxiliary and during the hot summer months. During the greater
part of the year the hot water is supplied from a water front in the firebox of
the regulation kitchen range. The current is controlled manually.
Farm No. 6. As in the first case, this is a complete unit consisting of a 15-gal-
lon insulated tank with automatic and manual current control. The heater is
located in the basement and furnishes water to the kitchen and bathroom located
on the floor above. The run of pipe from the heater to both of these locations
is particularly long and. at the same time, these pipes are exposed to quite
cool temperatures the year around. Both intermittent and continuous opera-
tion have been employed, the latter to supply 24-hour service. This is the
severest test to which any of the heaters have been subjected, and is at the
same time typical of a type of service which many people have come to expect.
Results are given in Table 13.
The heaters have given a high degree of service and are considered very de-
sirable and efficient from the mechanical and electrical standpoint.
The cost of operation for the type of service which the people are accus-
tomed to, however, is excessive.
The circulation-type heater that can be attached to, and thereby make use of,
the present boiler equipment is favored because of its lower first cost and ap-
parently lower cost of operation. Insulation of storage tanks and possibly pipe
lines is an important point.
Particular pains should be taken to locate the heater in a central position, if
possible, with respect to the points where the water will be used in order to
cut down the length of pipe exposed to radiation. Exposure of these pipes to
cold should be avoided.
TABLE 14. Washing Machine Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Tubsful
of Clothes
Family
of
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
2
3
4
7
6
3-4
3
4
6-7
5
2-3
6
3
5
6
5
6
1
2
2
3
1
1
3
8
3
4
2
2
1.6
5.7
2.3
3.5
1.7
1
January to December '26
August '25 to December '26
July '25 to December '26
March to December '26
June to December '26
May to December '26
Average
4
5
1.6
3.6
2.6
Washing Machines. The washing machine is considered important on the
farm where washings are large and heavy and access to commercial laundries
often impossible. All farms in the experimental group are equipped with elec-
tric driven washing machines representing cylinder, vacuum cup and submerged
TABLE 15. Flat Iron Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Tubsful
of Clothes
Family
of
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
3
4
6
3-4
4
6-7
2-3
6
5
6
6
4
4
7
5
10
9
10
10
7.8
5.8
8.6
7
January to December '26
July '25 to December '26
March to September '26
(Now using ironing machine)
May to December '26
Average
4
6
5
9.9
7.3
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 22S
gyrator types. Like the water supply system for the man of the farm, the wash-
ing machine is likely to be the housewife's first choice. Table 14 gives the
results to date. The current consumed by washers is fairly regular for most of
the year, with the maximum occurring in mid-summer.
Flat Irons. The advantages of the electric fiat iron are well known. There
have been cases where (he flat iron was used several years before electric lights
were installed. With the introduction of an ironing machine the use of the
flat iron is practically eliminated except for occasional pieces.
The maximum consumption shown in Table 15 occurs in July and August
and the minimums in April and May.
Ironing Machines. The ironing machine is likely to be as important in the
farm home as in the city, due to the greater amount of washing and ironing
which is- doae. The use of this machine almost eliminates the flat iron. Much
less time is required and practically everything may be ironed. The small house-
hold size machines, having a 30" to a 36" roll with one open or semi-open end,
are preferred on account of their compact size and improped operating features.
Two ironing machines have been obtained up to this time, though it is ex-
pected that more will be available. The desirability of ironers lies in the lessen-
ing of fatigue, increasing the pleasure of the work, shortening the time of
operation and increasing the quantity of material ironed. These appliances are
operated from the separate heating circuits to obtain lower rates.
Farm No. 4. This machine of the semi-open end type, having a 26" roll
operated by a 1-6 h. p. motor, requires 1650 watts for the heating shoe. A mov-
able table leaf in front controls the operation. When not in use for ironing, a
hinged top may be turned down protecting the working parts and providing a
table surface.
Farm No. 7. This 3,000-watt ironer with a 30" roll and one open end has
proven very practical. It is conveniently arranged in the way of controls, and
provision is made for easy oiling. It may be stored in a comparatively small
space.
Results are given in Table 16.
TABLE 16. Ironing Machine Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Tubsful
of Clothes
Family
of
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
4
7
6-7
5
6
5
17
6
23
9
18.3
7.2
August to December '26
June to December '26
Average
11.5
16
12.7
The length of roll has proved a factor in economical operation, and of the two
machines the 30" roll has been found more practical. The personal factor is
also important and the housewife can reduce the current consumption greatly,
and incidentally the ironing time, by learning how to use the machine. Very
TABLE 17. Barn Lights Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Outlets
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
2
3
16
22
20
0
1
1
11
13
42
5.5
I :;
13.9
January to December '26
August '25 to December 'L't>
August '25 to December '26
Average
19
.6
22
7.9
March, 1927] Electricity on New England Farms 39
little ironing is found that the machine will not handle. Initial cost is consid-
ered somewhat high.
FARMSTEAD EQUIPMENT
Barn Lighting. The fire hazard of flame lights for barns is so great that
practically all farmers arc glad to remove this possible danger with electric lights.
The additional advantages need no discussion.
All barns in the group are wired for this service, and the tendency is to in-
crease the number of outlets and. therefore, the quality of illumination. Forty
watt lamps are most commonly used.
Records are given in Table 17.
Shop Equipment. Probably the most useful articles in a farm shop arc an
emery wheel, grindstone, drill press and combination rip and cross-cut table saw.
Two such shops are in operation and are found to be of great value in repair
and upkeep of equipment and properly. Especially when break-downs occur
in rush season is the quick electric power appreciated. The cost of operation is
very low — 1 kilowatt hour being the maximum during the past season. This
is considered lower than could be regularly expected due to the small amount of
work done.
Wood Sawing. Sawing wood with a 5 H. P. portable motor, using a 24-
inch saw, showed, by a demand meter, that 3 H. P. was utilized. The usual run
of farm woodlot growth was can, ranging from 2" to 7" in diameter. Some 7"
frozen maple was included and was easily handled by the motor which pro-
vided steady, even power at all time-.
Fertilizer Grinding. Commercial fertilizers are frequently received in such a
hard lumpy condition that they cannot be mixed or fed through the distrib-
uting machines. Pulverizing by pounding is usually resorted to.
A discarded feed grinder was adapted and found to quickly and easily do the
work. A portable utility motor was used as power.
Portable Motors. Two portable motors of 1V-± and 5 H. P. respectively are
being used, the former on a. dairy farm (1) and the latter on a poultry farm (6).
The past season's work has been largely concerned with finding as many suit-
able operations as possible. The question in this cast- is to determine whether
there is sufficient work for them to do to justify their cost. Short term opera-
tions have so far offered the most practical openings, and during the past sea-
son they have been successfully used for hay hoisting, fertilizer grinding and
sawing wood. An attempt to cut and elevate ensilage with the 7!i> H. P. was
unsuccessful, though there are indications that it may be accomplished by a
new method of operation just being introduced. Until this method is proven
practical in the field, not less than 10 H. P. should be considered for ensilage
cutting with the prevailing practice of high-cutter speeds and forced feeding
that is common on our farms today.
Due to the interruptions in testing the adaptability of the equipment, cur-
rent consumption readings for the past season are not accurate in all cases and,
therefore, omitted.
FRUIT EQUIPMENT
An Apple Sorter and Grader. The use of such a machine is fast becoming a
necessity if New England apple growers are successfully to meet competition
from Western and Southern growers. Such machines may be privately owned
or operated by a commercial packing house.
The test here reported was made in cooperation with the Horticultural De-
partment of the University, using the crop from the college orchards. The
maximum capacity of the grader is close to 200 packed boxes a day (9 hours)
with experienced help. The grading and packing occupied 13 days or a total
of 93 hours, during which time the equipment was operated intermittently,
The help used consisted of 4 to 5 packers, 2 receivers and graders, 1 nailing and
general. Only two of these eight were experienced workers.
A total of 2100 bushels of apples were put through the machine, producing
1750 boxes. Sixty per cent of these were A grade, and 40 percent were B grade.
Twenty-five kilowatt hours of electricity were consumed by the % h. p. motor
for the entire operation. The failure of current for approximately two hours
was the only interruption that occurred. Seven 75-watt electric lights were
II)
New Hampshire Experiment Station
[Bulletin 228
required to illuminate the working space about the machine which measures
20x40 feet. The current consumed by these lamps for the entire period of op-
eration was 52.5 kwh.
Graders of this type cost in the neighborhood of $800.
The cost of operation per bushel was .014 kwh. and the cost for lighting .03
kwh. per bushel.
DAIRY EQUIPMENT
Milking Machines. Milking machines are considered as thoroughly practical
and standard equipment in the New England section. Many dairy farmers
have been operating them for quite a few years with gas engine power if not
with electric. The most important point is to keep the equipment clean and
sterile. With this well taken care of. very little difficulty arises from their use.
Three hours per week should be sufficient for this.
Each of the four dairy farms is equipped with stationary installed milkers,
three of which are double units (3 units per farm) and the other machine
operates three single units.
Various attempts have been made to determine the number of cows necessary
to justify the use of this machine. This, however, does not work out con-
sistently because of the human factor. Milkers have been installed for as few
as ten cows, and with the new small size, portable type of machines now avail-
able this may be more generally practical.
There is no standard power requirement for milking machines. Each make
varies from another. Unless definite information is at hand, milkers should be
over-powered to be on the safe side. Two horse-power is the average required
on the four farms.
In the case of Farm No. 3 a 2 h. p. motor operates, through belts, pulleys
and a line shaft, the milking machine, milk cooling pump and cream separator.
It will be noticed that the power consumption on this place exceeds that, of
farms milking many more cows, which is a clear-cut example of the loss of
power in a line shaft. The operating cost is thus increased 60 to 70 percent.
TABLE 18. Milking Machine Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Number
of Cows
30 Day Periods Approximately
Kilowatt Hours
Extent of Record
Number
Minimum
Maximum
Average
1
2
3
4
36
36
27
19
55
86
98
48
145
139
160
65
65.1
111
134
56.5
January to December '26
August '25 to December '26
July '25 to December '26
January to December '26
Average
30
71.7
127
91.5
Separators. New England is a whole milk producing section, and the use
of current for separators has dwindled to practically nothing. The four dairy
farms are equipped with them, but the records show that the current consump-
tion for months at a time stands at zero. They are used only very occasionally.
Milk Cooling with Water. Several methods are advocated for removing the
animal heat from milk immediately after milking, i.e. reducing the heat from
body temperature to about 50° F. Up to the present time but one of these
methods has been experimented with, namely that of circulating cold well-water
through specially designed cooling cones over which the milk flows in a thin
sheet, This is a well known and established practice among dairymen, and
undoubtedly economical, if plenty of cold water is available. The % h. p.
motor which operates the circulating pump consvimes 10 kwh. as a maximum in
July and August and reaches a minimum in February of 4 kwh. The average
for the year is 7.8 kwh. Three hundred quarts of milk are cooled daily.
Bottle Washing Brush. A 1-6 h. p. motor is used to operate a bottle brush
which washes 300 bottles a day. Many farmers who operate steam turbine
brushes which require 25 to 50 pounds steam pressure find that the cost of
March, 1927]
Electricity on New England Farms
41
fuel and labor for the boiler is quite high. If steam and hot water are used for
washing and sterilizing, the change to an electric driven brush does not eliminate
the boiler, though it will make it unnecessary to carry more than 10 or 15
pounds pressure, which will reduce the fuel cost considerably. It is also a step
toward the elimination of the boiler method. 2.2 kwh. is regularly used each
month for this operation.
Dairy Cooling Rooms. Like the household refrigerator the dairy cooling
room, chilled by electric refrigeration machines, has been pronounced prac-
tical and successful by the three dairymen who are using them. The plan
used in the experiment was intended primarily for retail dairymen who handle
bottled milk, but has since been tried by several farmers handling milk in
cans. Tank type coolers have been developed bj' other experiments for handling
wholesale milk or milk in cans.
The mechanical equipment for these rooms consists of a twin cylinder, air-
cooled compressor driven by a 54 or 1-3 h. p. motor connected by pipe lines
and suitable valves with a system of coils immersed in a brine tank located in-
side the cooling room. The units used have been found particularly effioient
and ruggedly constructed as is evident from a comparison of their size and the
size of room which they are chilling. One of these machines has been oper-
ating for three years, and the other two for one year.
Farm No. 1. This room measures I'-xT ft. x (5 ft. high. The walls and
ceiling have two air spaces, 3" of cork insulation, and V cement lining. Dur-
ing the past season an uninsulated, concrete floor was used. The room, con-
verted from an ice cooler, is in the basement and stores 300 quarts of milk daily.
Farm No. 2. This cooler measures about 4!4\5,-_. ft. x QVj ft. high, and was
converted from an ice cooled storage by the addition of cork insulation vary-
ing in thickness from 1 to 3 inches. Due to irregular construction, a uniform
thickness could not be applied. This room is exposed to the sun's heat for
about, four hours daily on two sides, and is on the same Level as the barn floor.
Three hundred quarts of milk are stored daily.
TABLE 19. Dairy Cooling Room Records on Experimental Farms
Farm
Quarts
Stored
30 D.u Periods Approximately
Kn.nu vi r limns
Extern* nf Record
Number
.Minimum
Maximum
\\rf.iy,
8 Months
1
2
4
300
300
300
0
0
0
226
164
175
96.5
112
I 18
\pril to December '26
August '25 to December 'L'ti
April to December '26
Average
300
0
188
119
Farm No. 4. This is a newly constructed room, containing 4" of cork insula-
tion in all walls, ceiling and floor, and fitted with a standard refrigerator door.
The dimensions are b% ft. square x 61/- ft. high. A W cement lining makes
it possible to sluice the room down with water in cleaning. It is on the ground
floor and protected on all sides from excessive changes in temperature. A
small section of the space is used by the housewife in place of a household
refrigerator. For this reason the room is somewhat larger than would ordinar-
ily be necessary. Three hundred quarts of milk are stored daily.
Records are given in Table 19.
Proper construction, using cork insulation, is essential, and location of the
room in a cool, dry place will reduce operating costs. A well constructed room
will provide safe storage for milk in winter by keeping out the cold as well as in
summer by keeping in the cold.
Operating costs are found to compare very favorably with the older method.
The maximum shown in the table occurs in August and September. During
(lie cold months the machines are not used.
42 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 22S
Electric Fan in the Dairy Room. An ordinary cooling fan has been used to
advantage on one farm to keep away flies in the process of bottling and also to
insure an abundance of fresh air. The fan is located so that the air draft is
directed into the reservoir which holds the milk.
Hay Hoisting. Two tests of hay hoist equipment were made during the
summer. The equipment used in both cases was identical, being a double-drum
hoist, operating a lift and return rope, respectively. A 5 h. p. portable motor
was used as power. The results obtained on Farm No. 1 were not satisfactory,
due to the fact that the equipment was not adapted to the local conditions.
On Farm No. 6 it was found that the motor, hoist, fork and carrier were all
within easy sight of the operator, making it possible to operate the hoist from
the load by means of ropes. This arrangement reduced the man labor and
power to a minimum, and quite successful operation was obtained.
Fifty tons (estimated) of hay, oats and millet were unloaded by this method
during the 1926 season. No other method was used. The time required to
unload varied from 20 to 35 minutes. Three men and a 2-horse team were
used.
A test made on Japanese millet, to obtain a high demand and current con-
sumption, showed that 1 kwh. was required per load, or .66 kwh. per ton,
(estimated). This millet, having been frosted, could not be thoroughly cured
and was, therefore, very rank and heavy. The maximum demand indicated that
3 h. p. should be sufficient for these conditions.
The type of hoist used should be modified and altered somewhat in design
to be entirely satisfactory
Silo Filling. A considerable number of attempts have been made in New
England during the past few j'ears to operate ensilage cutters with electric
motors, and the interest in this power for the work continues.
A test made on one of the dairy farms in the fall of 1926, using a 7xk H. P.
motor, 11-inch cutter and elevating 36 M> ft., failed to give results satisfactory
to the farmer. The equipment was overhauled before the test, but no attempt
was made to make local circumstances better than fair average field conditions.
A survey was made of ten practical applications in five states where motors
from 5 to 20 H. P. were used for this work. Most of the operators were inter-
viewed personally. Where conditions were representative of the average farm.
10 H. P. was the minimum that could be depended on to give satisfaction.
This does not mean that this is the final conclusion for ensilage cutting with
motors; for a method developed at the University of Wisconsin holds promise
of permitting the use of considerably less power, but until this method is
known and accepted as practical and better than the present practice, it seems
best to recommend, in a general way, not less than 10 H. P. in cases where
this type of power is considered. A test of the new method is planned in the
coming season.
POULTRY EQUIPMENT
Electric Incubators. Two tests were conducted at the University poultry
plant during April and May, 1926. A 360-egg incubator, 8 years old but in
fairly good condition, was used. This was converted from hot air to electric
heat by installing a heating unit and thermostat. Only one of the two trays in
the machine was used.
In one test, out of 160 eggs set, a 79.3% hatch or 127 chicks was obtained.
Sixty-one kilowatt hours of current were used. The current was cut off several
times, 3% hours being the longest interruption.
In the other test from 146 eggs set, 132 chicks, or a 90.4% hatch, was secured.
Fifty-eight kilowatt hours of current were used. No current interruptions oc-
curred.
The quality and vitality of chicks appeared to be excellent and above the
average for chicks from the same hens hatched by other means, according to
experienced observers.
Successful operation of electric incubators is reported by many users, and
several different types of equipment are now available which have not been
tested.
In well insulated machines the current may be cut off for several hours with-
out material damage.
March, 1927] Electricity on New England Farms 43
It appears to be possible to obtain a better percent of hatch and quality of
chick from some electric incubators.
Further experimental work is desirable.
Electric Brooders. Brooding chicks by electricity, on the basis of the usual
methods common to poultrymen in this section, has not been found practical up
to this time. The cold temperatures prevailing in New England during the
brooding season make it impossible for an electric brooder, operating in an un-
heated brooder house, to give sufficient protection to young chicks.
The brooding of chicks in buildings warmed by a central heating plant, how-
ever, is rapidly gaining favor among poultrymen, and under such conditions
successful operation of electric brooders can be safely predicted.
Several reports have appeared to the effect that the New Hampshire project
''has been entirely successful in brooding by electricity." This has arisen
from a lack of distinction bet ween preliminary tests of some of the elements
of brooders and the brooding of chickens considered as a complete problem.
No satisfactory solution of the whole problem has been obtained and it is
recommended for the present that electric brooders, if used at all in this climate,
be operated only in well heated rooms.
Considerable further research in this held is believed desirable.
Grain and Feed Mixer. Construction of a grain and feed mixer of 1500
pounds capacity which will successfully mix any kind of cracked grain or mash
feeds, has recently been completed m cooperation with a manufacturer of grain
mixing machinery. Any number of ingredients can he placed in the machine,
and the product delivered to nearby storage bins. The equipment will also
thoroughly mix cod liver oil or molasses with mash feeds without lumping. One
horsepower will probably be sufficient to operate it. Operating costs are not at
present available, but these ate expected to be very reasonable
This equipment, which should be equally practical for dairy farms, will per-
mit farmers to buy purer grain ingredients and mix rations of higher feeding
value at less total cost under present grain buying conditions. Many farmers
have been interested in this plan but have not adopted the practice because of
the lack of a suitable, time-savinii mixing device.
Ultra-Violet Light. To obtain the comparative value of cod liver oil and
ultra-violet light, four test pens of baby chicks are being used. Each pen con-
tains about 600 chicks, is 14 ft. x 20 ft. giving 66 sq. ins. or .46 sq. ft. per chick,
is well lighted through window glass, and heated by a coal brooder. The chicks
are on wood floors. One pen is used as a check without cod liver oil or ultra-
violet light; in another, cod liver oil alone is used; in another both cod liver
oil and ultra-violet light; while the last pen lias ultra-violet light alone. The
test will be run several tnu<- or until definite results are obtained. The lamp
which consumes .0 kw. per hour is 4'j ft. from the floor and is left on for 45
minutes each day.
Tests are also planned on the effect of exposing feed to ultra-violet light, on
its usefulness in the prevention of disease, and on its effect when used on lay-
ing hens, on the hatchability of eggs and the vigor of the chicks.
Poultry Lighting. Using electric lights in pens of laying hens to prolong the
daylight conditions one hour morning and night is generally accepted as a
practical and profitable process among poultry men in New England. The pic-
turesque sight of lighted poultry houses at dusk is not uncommon. The current
consumption will vary with the number of lamps used and methods employed.
Farm No. 6 used very little poultry lighting during the two years due to cer-
tain unusual conditions. Farm No. 7, however, showed a more normal use of
these lights, the current consumption for which started at zero in late October
and reached a maximum of 157 in January.
Oats Sprouter. A year around operation on many poultry farms is the ger-
mination of oats to supply green feed to the young stock.
A roughly built sprouter, not insulated, has been in operation in a cool base-
ment of the University poultry plant during the past year. The inside dimen-
sions are 32" deep, 54" wide and 72" high. Twenty pans 23" square and 2" deep,
arranged in two vertical tiers, hold 20 lbs. of moist oats (10 lbs. dry, soaked 24
hrs.) each, and produce 24 to 28 quarts of germinated oats.
Two 220-watt electric space heaters produced sufficient heat for the mildly
cool weather of fall and spiring but not enough for winter operation. It is
44 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 228
estimated that about 880 watts will be necessary for the coldest weather. Using
440 watts the current consumption amounts to 5.28 kwhs. per day or 158.4 per
month. These values would be doubled with heaters totaling 880 watts. The
operating characteristics were excellent.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
The opportunities for further research, especially in the field of farmstead
operations, seem at times to be almost unlimited. Some farmers are doing
experimental work of their own in the uses of electricity.
Some of the problems that have been suggested and appear to offer possibil-
ities of successful applications of electricity are given below. In addition, there
is l lie further development of some of the equipment already mentioned and
the maintaining of experiments already under way.
Fruit Equipment.
.4 motor-driven cider press, suitable for use in disposing of culls and poor
grade fruit in the form of cider or vinegar, will be tested during the next
season.
Spraying or dusting machinery is now powered by gas engines, and an op-
portunity exists for using electric motors, if a practical method of supplying
current can be developed. A new method, using a stationary spray plant, as
developed by the Washington project, is reported to have met with considerable
approval.
Insect Trapping. The fact that moths and. insects will gather around a light
has suggested to one of our fruit farmers that injurious pests could be trapped
in pans of oil suspended under lights placed at intervals in the orchard. The
results obtained from first trials of this system on tomatoes in the Virginia
project indicate possibilities. This and work on spraying and dusting equip-
ment could be combined as far as the field wiring is concerned.
Dairy Equipment.
Stock Clippers. Dairymen have learned that clean milk is much more easily
produced when the flanks and udders of cows are kept clean. Keeping the
hair on these parts clipped short is desirable, and requests for practical, inex-
pensive clippers have been received. Tests are planned using modified barber
clippers, standard stock clippers and hand-operated clippers converted to motor
drive.
Milk Cooling. Several methods of removing body heat from milk are pos-
sible besides that of using cold well or spring water. Various ways of using
electric refrigeration equipment offer promising possibilities, and many inquiries
indicate considerable interest.
Sli rilized utensils are essential to the production of high grade, clean milk.
Methods now used are not always adequate to cope with the situation. Elec-
tric equipment which can probably be adapted to this work has been located.
This is a mid-day operation with dairy farms, and occurs every day of the year.
Sterilization of Milk. Pasteurized milk is sometimes said to be lacking in
natural quality or taste, but the ever increasing strictness of regulations gov-
erning the milk produced for market raises the problem of how else milk may
be sterilized. Several possible methods have been suggested for doing this
electrically.
Cold Storage for Wholesale Milk. Wholesale milk is usually handled in 40
quart cans, and smaller cold storage rooms of a somewhat different type than
the cooling rooms already described may be used. Dry storage is also desirable
and a plan is suggested for using the electric refrigeration machine for this
purpose.
Fertilizer Mixing. Home-mixed commercial fertilizers are often higher in
plant food value and cost less than when purchased ready mixed. Developing
a convenient method for this operation has been suggested.
Paint spray equipment may have several uses about a farm of any type.
The painting of farm buildings alone is an item of considerable expense, mostly
labor, and there are several other uses to which this equipment could be put.
Tests on the use of this equipment are planned.
March, 1927] Electricity on New England Farms 45
Poultry Equipment.
Flat, pancake-type poultry fountain heaters for keeping water from freezing
in poultry buildings have been given preliminary tests which indicate that they
are feasible but details on their capacity and cost of operation are not yet
available.
Poultry Pen Cleaning Equipment . Certain poultry diseases, which have re-
cently developed, require the cleaning of houses or pens at very frequent inter-
vals as a control. To do this once every three days entails a very considerable
cost for labor. A plan for doing mosl of this work with electricity as power has
been developed, and it is planned to test out the equipment on one of the
poultry farms.
Yard and Building Searchlight. Safeguarding property at night and inspect-
ing buildings and grounds for prowlers and other disturbances is thought prac-
tical by the use of a searchlight. Such a device is at hand ready to be in-
stalled.
Brooding and Incubation. It seems of considerable importance that further
studies in brooding and incubation equipment should be made.
SUMMARY
Seven farms in New Hampshire, representing dairy, poultry, fruit and general
farms, were selected in the spring of 1925 and equipped with appliances to
determine what limits in quantity of electricity can be economically used and to
secure data on the efficiency of the different appliances. The farms were
chosen as typical of substantial and successful enterprises operated with modern,
well balanced methods.
Sixty major and 40 minor pieces of electrical equipment are now in use on
these farms covering 36 distinct operations, and metered in such a way that
detailed records can be secured each month for nearly every appliance.
This bulletin presents figures for the period ending December 31. 1926. includ-
ing inventories, current consumption and costs for each circuit by farms, and
current consumption by appliances.
Current consumption on the seven farms averaged 1683 kilowatt hours for
the year 1925 and increased to 1253 kilowatt hours in 1926.
Heating equipment, such as refrigeration, ranges, ironers, water heaters, etc.,
produced the greatest effect on the total consumption and developed a peak
load in midsummer.
Total consumption for the year 1926 was distributed as follows: winter, 23%;
spring, 16%; summer, 32%; and fall. 28%.
Total consumption by farms for 1926 ranged from 432 kilowatt hours for the
fruit farm to 7694 kilowatt hours for one of the dairy farms.
The records are still too limited to draw many detailed conclusions, and fur-
ther research, particularly with farmstead appliances, is desirable.
House lights showed an average monthly consumption of 34.6 kilowatt hours,
ranging from 15.2 to 63.3.
Water pumps showed an average monthly consumption of 23.7 kilowatt hours,
ranging from 3.7 to 39.
Kitchen ranges showed an average monthly consumption of 167 kilowatt
hours, ranging from 26 to 282. Combination ranges with wood and coal and
straight electric ranges are being used.
House refrigerators used an average of 35.3 kilowatt hours per month, ranging
from 23 to 39.5.
Hot water heaters used an average of 1S2 kilowatt hours per month, ranging
from 15.2 to 548. They have given a high degree of service, but their cost of
operation has been high.
Washing machines used an average of 2.6 kilowatt hours per month.
Flatirons used an average of 7.3 kilowatt hours per month, and ironing ma-
chines 12.7.
Barn lights used an average of 7.9 kilowatt hours per month, ranging from 4.3
to 13.9.
Milking machines used an average of 91.5 kilowatt hours per month, ranging
from 56.5 to 134.
Dairy cooling rooms showed an average monthly consumption of 119 kilowatt
hours, ranging from 96.5 to 148.
46 New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 22S
ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PROJECT
University of New Hampshire Committee
J. C. Kendall, Director, New Hampshire Experiment Station. Durham, N. H.
L. W. Hitchcock, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Univer-
sity of New Hampshire, Durham, N. H.
G. W. Case, Dean, College of Technology, University of New
Hampshire, Durham, N. H.
E. P. Robinson, Count}- Agent Leader, University Extension
Service, Durham, N. H.
Miss D. D. Williamson, Home Demonstration Leader, Uni-
versity Extension Service, Durham, N. H.
State Leader and Field Engineer
W. T. Ackerman, State Leader of Electrical Project, Exper-
iment Station, Durham, N. H.
New Hampshire Committee on Relation of Electricity to Agriculture
The Advisory Committee for the New Hampshire Project:
F. A. Belden, Chairman, Edison Electric Illuminating Co., Boston, Mass.
Formerly vice-president Portsmouth Power Co., Portsmouth, N. H.
Huntley N. Spaulding, Governor of the State of New Hamp-
shire Concord, N. H.
J. C. Kendall, Director, New Hampshire Agricultural Experi-
ment Station, Durham, N. H.
G. M. Putnam, President, New Hampshire Farm Bureau
Federation, Concord, N. H.
J. C. Farmer, Master of the New Hampshire State Grange, Newbury, N. H.
E. P. Robinson, State County Agent Leader, University
Extension Service, Durham, N. H.
Charles W. Barker, Farm Owner and Operator, Exeter, N. H.
L. W. Hitchcock, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Uni-
versity of New Hampshire, Durham, N. H.
Roy D. Hunter, Farm Owner and Operator, W. Claremont, N. H.
R. D. Smith, Manager, Keene Gas & Electric Company Keene, N. H.
March, 11)27] Electricity on New England Farms 47
NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE RELATION OF ELECTRICITY
TO AGRICULTURE
J. W. CoVERDALE, Chairman
G. C. Neff, Secretary-Treasurer
E. A. White, Director
L. C. Prickett, ^.ssistanl Director
American Farm Bureau Federation: National Electric Light Association
S. II. Thompson Marshall E. Sampsell
M L. Noon G. C. Neff
J. C. Brubaker Arthur Huntington
J. C. Martin
Tin National Grange: K. A. Pauly
L. J. Taber C. W. Drake
National Association of Farm Equipment Manufacturers:
Thko. Brown
I >. B. ZlM merman
H. C. Beckman
Individual Plant Manufacturers:
R. C. Cosgrove
American Society of Agricultural Engineers:
J. B. Davidson
United States Department of Agriculture:
S. H. McCrort
United States Department of Commerce:
Marshall T. Jones
United States Department of Interior:
C. A. Bissell
American Home Economics Association
Miss Eloise Davison
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. John D. Sherman
'
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