Vintage electrical machines

I'm not sure, but I think some of the guys at rec.crafts.metalworking will know. I'll post the question there.

Chris

A most interesting thread! I suppose I realised by experience much of what has now been quite thoroughly explained. But there, it would not have occurred to me to run electrodes under my skin or nail a PP9 to my head, so probably I'd have been pretty safe anyway ;o))

Nonetheless, I shall view car batteries with new respect .............

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

I always treat car batteries with respect for a variety of reasons. The amount of stored energy is large and can be released in some very undesirable ways. NEVER detatch a battery charger before disconecting from the mains. I'm sure you all know why and having seen the results, I don't want to be anywhere near one that exlodes. The other old failure is to drop a spanner across the terminals. Again a well known result. I once had to replace a lorry battery when working in a garage. I put the battery down on the tarmac forcourt and a very small stone punctured the base. Scrapped one brand new battery. Big anh heavy isn't necessarily strong.

John

My favourite story to sober the unwary is also from personal experience as I was the First Aider they brought him too.

A mechanic with a stretchy metal watch band wriggled his hand up into an engine compartment from below and said "Try it now". His watch strap was across the starter terminals & was actually glowing bright red before he could extricate his hand.

The first degree burns required skin grafts & left a permanent reminder.

regards,

Kim Siddorn

It's also not advisable to have a PP9 with open terminals in the same trouser pocket as coins! I'm not showing but it was painful.

I worked with a welder who accidentally struck up on his helpers wedding ring while he was holding something. A similar burn resulted.

I suppose I must admit to my own failing here. Many years ago when I was a more active radio ham, I regularly carried a car battery to weekend events. It fitted quite neatly inside the rear footwell of the Mini wedged so that it couldn't move. That's fine until I forgot to take it out before Monday morning arrived. The usual weekday routine kicked in. Put briefcase in car. Get car out of garage. Lock garage. Get back in car. Think "where's that burning from?" My nice black executive case fitted perfectly behind the front seat and had a central aluminium band which sat on the battery terminals. Fortunately, they had screws in them and the contact wasn't too good. I still have the slightly burned case. My boss had to admit he'd never heard THAT excuse for being late before. Always treat energy sources with respect.

John

Sitting down rather heavily upon a stone wall whilst carrying a box of Swan Vestas in the back pocket once caused much hilarity & throwing of beer to put him out.

Ah, happy days ;o))

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Gentlemen,

This very day caused me to move with great speed whilst working on a Wash machine. I visited a customer today to try and find a fault regarding the water heating, at one point I partially drained one of the tanks to see if it would automatically refill and it did, I then put the machine into auto but it refused and gave me an alarm telling me that the Max Level Switch was faulty so I opened the machine doors and leaned into the machine to gain access to the float switch which had stuck. As soon as the switch moved the machine started and covered me with 55 Deg C water at three Bar from top and bottom of the chamber, It may have taken me less than a second to remove myself but the water was hot and I was very wet. Fortunately for some strange reason I had before this decided to remove all of my clothing and was wearing a paper Tyvex boiler suit as protection.

My parent company are at this moment checking the software as this should not have happened.

Or in the same pocket as wire wool...

Greg