Many of the wiring devices in use in the Netherland East Indies 
would not be allowed by the American National Electrical Code, 
the sockets and switches in general use being of very poor quality, 
selling for about one-third of the cost of similar American products. 
European and Japanese tinned copper wire is used extensively. Rub- 
ber-covered copper wire is rarely used, the reason being that the type 
of rubber covering put on cheap copper wiring soon corrodes in the 
Netherland East Indies. The conduit in general use is of thin black 
lacquered stéel of about %-inch diameter. 
Although there are some snap and tumbler switches in use, the Ger- 
man rotary switch has more or less become the standard. The 
American push-button switch is rarely seen. 
The Edison socket has been standardized by practically all of the 
public-utility companies. The English bayonet-type socket is seldom 
used. The fitting of special connections near the floor for the attach- 
ment of electric irons, vacuum cleaners, etc., is seldom seen, but those 
in use are all of European origin. 
The most popular fuses in use are the German “Z” type plug fuses. 
There are no particular objections to American fuse blocks, but 
American plug fuses are not favored. 
WIRING PRACTICE 
Bergmann tubing on the surface is generally used in connection 
with interior wiring, and it is not permitted to carry wire on porcelain 
knobs or cleats on the surface of walls. Ceiling ‘or lamp-cord wire 
carried across walls and ceilings on small porcelain knobs or “button 
insulators” is not permitted. Wire on knobs and through tubes con- 
cealed in the walls is permitted provided the wiring is out of reach. 
Armored cable wiring and wiring in rigid iron conduits is permitted 
but seldom used because it is considered too expensive. Lead-covered 
wiring is permitted for surface work only while wooden casing or mold- 
ing wiring is not permitted. 
Metric copper wire gauge is standardized in the Netherland East 
Indies. The minimum sizes of wire generally used in the wiring of 
dwellings are as follows: For fixtures, 0.50 square milimeter; for 
portable lamp cords, 0.75 square milimeter; for wiring in conduits 
or on knobs, 1.50 square milimeters. 
METERING 
Meters are not generally used, the greater part of public-utility 
current being sold on a flat-rate basis. Where no meters are used, 
the consumption of electricity is limited either by means of a series 
of special sockets and lamps with special bases which are supplied by 
the lighting companies or by means of current limiters. In the few 
cases where meters are used, they are generally of 5 amperes. 
WIRING REGULATIONS 
The regulations that are now in force are not entirely satisfactory, 
because the safety rules of the Dutch Royal Institute of Engineers 
have not been revised for many years, and certain types of equipment 
which have been improved upon and perfected are not allowed in the 
Netherland East Indies. Another undesirable condition which exists 
is that the decision as to whether a certain device shall or shall not be