Home > California > Bakersfield vicinity > Kern County No. 1 Hydroelectric System, Powerhouse Exciters, Kern River Canyon, Bakersfield, Kern County, CA
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Item Title
Kern County No. 1 Hydroelectric System, Powerhouse Exciters, Kern River Canyon, Bakersfield, Kern County, CA
LocationKern River Canyon,
Bakersfield vicinity, CA
Find maps of Bakersfield, CA
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.
Notes
Survey number HAER CA-165-A
Significance: The Kern River No. 1 powerhouse is equipped with two exciters (small electric generators) to provide direct field current to the four 5000 kv generators. The No. 1 exciter is original equipment driven by a water wheel; the No. 2 exciter was modified about 1930 to operate on an electric motor. Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project significance lies in the key role it played in the development of the Southern California Edison Company into the pre-eminent twentieth Century Southern California Electric Utility. It is also significant as a nearly intact example of a state-of-the-art hydroelectric power facility from the early twentieth Century.
Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. WEST END EXTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING SWITCHRACKS ON SOUTH SIDE AND PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY KERN RIVER CANYON POWERHOUSE FOREBAY STRUCTURE IN FOREGROUND. KERN RIVER NO. 1 FOREBAY OVERFLOW PIPE IS VISIBLE ABOVE POWERHOUSE. VIEW TO NORTHEAST.
2. INTERIOR OF POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No. 1 (FOREGROUND), EXCITER No 2, AND GENERATOR UNIT No. 3. BAYS FOR TRANSFORMERS No. 3 AND 4 ARE VISIBLE ALONG SIDE-WALL IN BACKGROUND. STAIRS LEAD TO OFFICE. VIEW TO SOUTHEAST.
3. INTERIOR OF POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No. 2 (FOREGROUND), EXCITER No. 1, AND GENERATOR UNIT No. 2. BAYS FOR TRANSFORMERS No. 1 AND 2 ARE VISIBLE ALONG SIDE-WALL IN BACKGROUND. VIEW TO SOUTHWEST.
4. NORTH EXTERIOR SIDE OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING TAILRACES FOR (LEFT TO RIGHT IN PHOTO) GENERATOR UNITS Nos. 4 AND 3, EXCITER No. 1, AND GENERATOR UNITS Nos. 2 AND 1. POWERHOUSE BUILDING NORTH EXIT DOOR IS IN CENTER OF WALL. VIEW TO SOUTHWEST.
5. INTERIOR DETAIL, EXCITER No 1 GENERATOR NAMEPLATE. VIEW TO NORTH.
6. INTERIOR DETAIL, EXCITER No 2 GENERATOR NAMEPLATE. VIEW TO NORTH.
7. INTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No 1. EXCITER No. 1 IMPULSE WHEEL NOZZLE SHUTOFF VALVE AND LOMBARD GOVERNOR IN FOREGROUND. NORTH EXIT DOOR VISIBLE IN BACKGROUND. VIEW TO NORTH.
8. INTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No 1. SIDE VIEW OF LOMBARD GOVERNOR SHOWING BELT ATTACHMENT TO EXCITER SHAFT. GENERATOR UNIT No. 2 IN BACKGROUND. VIEW TO NORTHWEST.
9. INTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No 2. Ca. 1930 GENERAL ELECTRIC ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR REPLACEMENT FOR ALLIS-CHALMERS IMPULSE WHEEL IS VISIBLE ON RIGHT ALONG WITH COUPLING TO EXCITER SHAFT. VIEW TO NORTHWEST.
10. INTERIOR DETAIL OF EXCITER No. 1 LOMBARD GOVERNOR CONTROL VALVE. VIEW TO NORTH.
11. INTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No. 1. LOMBARD GOVERNOR NOZZLE-DEFLECTOR CONNECTION IS VISIBLE IN FRONT OF ALLIS-CHALMERS WATERWHEEL COVER. VIEW TO NORTHEAST.
12. INTERIOR DETAIL OF EXCITER No. 2 COPPER COMMUTATOR SHOWING CARBON BRUSHES, CABLING, AND ARMATURE WINDINGS. VIEW TO NORTH.
13. INTERIOR OF KERN RIVER No. 1 POWERHOUSE BUILDING SHOWING EXCITER No. 1 GENERATOR COMMUTATOR, CABLING, AND ARMATURE BETWEEN WATERWHEEL AND FLYWHEEL. VIEW TO SOUTH.
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