Electric Lighting Station, Manchester

ELECTRIC LIGHTING STATION IN MANCHESTER - The formal opening of the electric light generating station erected by the Gas Committee of the Manchester Corporation in Dickinson Street, took place last week. The provisional order for the lighting of the city by electricity was obtained in September 1890, and the Corporation obtained from the Local Government Board power to borrow £150,000 for the purpose of carrying out the works. A suitable site for a generating station was secured in Dickinson Street in the form of 5,765 square yards of ground formerly in the possession of the Highways Committee of the Corporation. The site offers special advantages by reason of its central position in relation to the area to be sup- plied, and because of its proximity to the Rochdale Canal, which gives facilities for coaling and for the supply of condensing water. The system of generation and distribution that has been adopted is in accordance with plans designed by Dr. J. Hopkinson, consulting engineer to the Corporation. It is the system known as the five-wire system, by which a direct supply is obtained by a continuous low-pressure current. The engine and dynamo house is 200 ft. long, 80 ft. wide, and 43 ft. in height, and is lined with glazed bricks throughout. It is divided into two bays, and at an elevation a ten-ton crane travels on longitudinal girders the whole length of each bay to facilitate the handling of the machinery. There are ten engines of the compound vertical condensing type, working at a pressure of 120 lb. The dynamos, ten in number, are driven by linked leather belting with jockey pulleys. The switchboard is of special design, with horizontal and vertical bars, and is so arranged that any pair of feeders may be coupled to any large dynamo or the several feeders grouped in any arrangement on one or more of the dynamos. , The plant at present provided is estimated to supply 20,000 incandescent lamps of 16-candlo power, and already current is being actually supplied to 18,594 lamps of 16-candle power, 250 arc lamps, and motors to the extent of 16-horse power. The mains by which the current is distributed to the consumers consist of bare copper strips supported on porcelain insulators, set in concrete conduits and insulated rubber cables in cast-iron pipes. The resident electrical engineer to the Corporation, who will have the supervision of the works, is Mr. C. H. Wordingham. [The British Architect 27 April 1894. Page 302-303]

ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN MANCHESTER - On the 13th inst., electric lighting works were opened at Manchester, in Dickinson-street. The system of generation and distribution that has been adopted is in accordance with plans designed by Dr. J. Hopkinson, consulting engineer to the Corporation. It is the system known as the five-wire -system, by which a direct supply is obtained by a continuous low-pressure current. The engine and dynamo house is 200 ft. long, 80 ft. wide, and 43 ft. in height, and is lined with glazed bricks throughout. It is divided into two bays, and at an elevation a 10-ton crane travels on longitudinal girders the whole length of each bay to facilitate the handling of the machinery. There are ten engines of the compound vertical condensing type, working at a pressure of 120 lb. The dynamos, ten in number, are driven by linked leather belting with jockey pulleys. The switchboard is of special design, with horizontal and vertical bars, and is so arranged that any pair of feeders may be coupled to any large dynamo, or the several feeders grouped in any arrangement on one or more of the dynamos. The plant at present provided is estimated to supply 20.000 incandescent lamps of i6-candle power, and already current is being actually supplied to 18,594 lamps of 16-candIe power, 250 arc lamps, and motors to the extent of 16-horse power. The mains by which the current is distributed to the consumers consist of bare copper strips supported on porcelain insulators, set in concrete conduits and insulated rubber cables in cast-iron pipes. The resident electrical engineer to the Corporation, who will have the supervision of the works, is Mr. C. H. Wordingham.  [Builder 28 April 1894 page 334]

Reference    British Architect 27 April 1894 Page 301
Reference    Builder 28 April 1894 page 334