(Illus
5-2, Galvanometer Room Dickson. Edison had first designed an
electrochemical meter used his electric lighting
system. The staff the galvanometer room (Building 1)
continually monitored the performance measuring equipment
used Edison central stations and led the way in
technological development electricity measurement.8
expensive research project had produced vital part the
larger supply systems the 1890s.)
At the user's end the system, the electric meter was
subject numerous complaints about its poor accuracy and
frequent breakdowns. When committee met discuss some general
engineering problems confronting the Edison companies 1888,
the first three items the agenda were pressure meters,
feeded equalizers (in distribution systems), and ampere meters.
Most attention was the production electricity and
it was not until the end the 1880s that the importance of
electrical measurement was appreciated. Precise electrical
measurement was the starting point the new art creating a
profitable load and controlling costs generating
electricity. This was the priority Edison central stations
in the 1880s.
16
The electric lighting industry urgently required better
measuring instruments monitor output and Edison's laboratory
quickly produced improved pressure meter for central station
use. This probably worked well enough the laboratory, but
proved ineffectual under normal operating conditions— it
