Discussion on, “the constant-current mercury-arc rectifier”

Mr. Steinmetz has outlined not only the practical instrument and its results, but he has given also a theoretical investigation of the phenomena involved. This apparatus is one which is very important in its applications, as it will often even determine the selection of the type of distributing system. With the extended application of series alternating-current arcs, it has become, I think, more and more evident that they are not of equivalent value to direct-current arcs; the result is that in many cases a strong pressure is brought to bear for direct current for series arc lighting. This apparatus is efficient, small, and inexpensive, and I hope it will enable this question to be solved from our ordinary alternating current distributing systems.