Fang Er was unaware of what had happened in the workshop.
He was currently by the Tai River, watching the turbine engine spin madly, driven by the current.
Two thick wires connected the engine to a transformer in the aluminum workshop in the distance.
The transformer was fixed on a tall rack, clearly visible from here.
This transformer was not a system product.
Nor was it made by Fang Er.
It came from the hands of a craftsman who had previously been inconspicuous. Although he had followed from Fang Family Village, Fang Er had never noticed him, not even knowing his name.
This craftsman was now following behind Fang Er.
What is your name?
The craftsman, with a respectful demeanor, saluted before speaking.
Reporting to the Duke, my name is Hu Lian. My home is in Gao Family Village, Wannian County.
Fang Er was speechless.
To give such a name and then manage to tinker out a transformer?
The three transformers he had exchanged for when he was in Shijian were: one was used in the mansion, and the workshop had a large demand, so both were used.
When he came over, he was still thinking about hand-crafting a transformer.
Good heavens, Hu Lian had actually made one.
How did you learn to make this?
Fang Er asked him curiously.
Reporting to the Duke, when you made transformers in Fang Family Village before, I was there assisting you.
Hu Lian looked wronged, feeling his lack of presence.
What the heck?
Fang Er truly did not remember this person, not at all!
To avoid appearing awkward, he pointed at the transformer and asked Hu Lian, "Have you tested this? Can it work?"
Hu Lian quickly nodded, "Reporting to the Duke, it has all been tested. Craftsman Zhao had someone send over an electric motor before. It's placed in the aluminum workshop."
Fang Er had previously worked with Zhao Gang on an electric motor, and the technology had been passed down. Even the motors on the new machine tools in the sheds were done by the craftsmen themselves, so Fang Er was not surprised.
Lead the way, let's go take a look.
Yes, Duke.
The aluminum workshop's main entrance faced east. Upon entering, in the southeast corner near the Tai River, was the location of the transformer.
Three wires were pulled from the transformer, connecting to a wooden box on the adjacent wall.
Hu Lian walked forward, opened the wooden box, revealing a bare knife switch.
It had a wooden base with six copper rods. The top three were connected to the wires from the transformer and also to the knife switch.
The bottom only had two connected, extending to the corner of the wall and connecting to the electric motor.
You know this too?
Fang Er was confused.
How is this guy so awesome?
Duke, when the Duke's manor installed the small thermal power plant before, I was there too. I saw you testing electricity this way.
Hu Lian was certain his presence was absolutely zero.
Fang Er: ...
My god, is my memory that bad?
When making transformers in Fang Family Village, and installing the thermal power plant in Shenyang Prefecture, the number of people present on both occasions was not large.
Such an excellent craftsman, appearing under his nose twice, yet he had no impression of him?
He quickly changed the subject again, "How many times did you test this until it worked?"
Without any meters, when he was in Fang Family Village, he had burned out many electric motors trying to confirm the electricity coming from the transformer was usable.
I tested it nineteen times, burning eighteen motors. It was only on the last attempt that the motor started to turn.
Hu Lian said, scratching the back of his head with some embarrassment.
Awesome!
This transformer was much larger than the ones he had made back then, and it didn't malfunction?
How did you test it?
With this thought, Fang Er asked curiously.
Heh heh, I asked Craftsman Zhao for tree sap and coated my hands with it.
Hu Lian said this with pride.
He knew electricity could kill people. In Fang Family Village, outside the school, the upside-down calf and that unlucky Imperial College scholar were prime examples.
When insulating wires, Fang Er had used tree sap.
Do you like doing this?
Fang Er looked at him meaningfully.
Hu Lian quickly nodded, "Yes, I like this invisible thing that can kill you if you touch it."
Fang Er: ...
What kind of adjective is that!
But thinking about it, it was quite apt. So far, the most use of electricity was for machine tools, and that was indeed something that could kill you if you touched it.
Since that's the case, I will establish an Electricity Management Station, and you will be its director, with the same treatment as the craftsmen in various workshops.
All electricity will be under your charge.
I will give you a quota of fifty subordinates. You can choose your own people. Just submit a list to Zhao Gang later.
Hu Lian was greatly excited upon hearing this. He never expected his hobby would lead to such a rapid promotion.
Thank you, Duke, for the promotion! I will definitely manage the electricity well!
Wherever you say to send the electricity, I will send it there!
While bowing and thanking Fang Er, Hu Lian was secretly ecstatic.
All electricity is under my charge, am I a God of Thunder?
No, the Goddess of Electricity?
That’s not right either, it should be the Duke of Electricity!
Heh heh heh heh.
Alright, connect the power, and let this Duke see your results.
Yes, Duke!
Hu Lian trotted off and closed the circuit breaker.
The electric motor in the corner of the wall started to hum and spin at that instant.
However, the speed seemed a bit slow, and the sound also seemed somewhat off.
Fang Er took out a newly acquired multimeter, walked over to the motor, and put on rubber gloves.
The connection point between the wire and the motor still exposed yellow copper coins. He connected the multimeter and looked at the displayed voltage, which was 201v.
The output voltage of the transformer was too low.
He walked to the electrical box and measured the three-phase voltage: 347v.
He beckoned Hu Lian over and handed him the multimeter.
This is called a multimeter, and it will be provided for your use from now on.
With this, you can accurately measure voltage and current. When making transformers in the future, you won't need to test them by burning out electric motors.
Hu Lian looked at Fang Er eagerly.
Duke, what are electric ducks and electric cows? Are they ducks and cows that can generate electricity? Where can I find them? I'll go catch them!
Fang Er: ...
It's "pressure" as in "voltage" and "flow" as in "current"!
After saying that, he thought for a moment and continued,
You can think of it this way: voltage is the pressure of the electricity itself. This pressure already exists when the turbine generates electricity. The principle of a transformer is to adjust the voltage to a range that suits our needs. Does that make sense to you?
Hu Lian only knew before that electricity could make a calf stand on its head, split that unlucky scholar in two, burn out motors, and make motors run.
But Fang Er had never explained why.
It was like knowing that eating makes you full and not hungry, but not understanding why.
This was a typical case of knowing the result but not the reason.
These things were in the physics textbooks at the school, but Hu Lian was just a craftsman in the workshop and hadn't had the chance to study before.
Hearing Fang Er's explanation, he nodded excitedly.
Duke, I understand. Then what is current?