On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 19:58:17 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:

"Richard Clark" wrote
Another point of toxicity. Because the nuclear "Boomers" contained a
closed loop environmental system, ALL such batteries were banned from
the boat irrespective of their need in ANY equipment. We had to make
do with substitutes and jury rig our own holders or means to provide a
voltage for key equipment that would work fine on surface craft.

What are you talking about Richard? Just what kind of "jury rigging" did you
do on "your" boomer?

Jack
Launch Operations Supervisior, Weapons Power PO, QA Inspector
USS Andrew Jackson
SSBN 619 (Gold) 1983-1987


Hi Jack,

They were ALL my Boomers (COMSUBLANT Charleston). USS Holland AS-32
Fleet Electronics Calibration Laboratory (Repair Services division).

Battery holders for test equipment that took only one particular
shaped coin cell (the mercury cells in commercial gear). They were
usually bias voltages for specialized test equipment (maybe torpedo
sonar test sets, but recollection is hazy in the particulars; coulda
been crypto gear with RAM). I am well aware that mods were frowned
on, but our shop had special dispensations from the Pope. No one
argued authority with us who wanted to ship out (and we did get our
quota of those who "just had to" lose a fight).

I do know it wasn't for the nuclear pile sensor. They hauled me outa
the rack at midnight to take over measuring at least 10 GigOhms
because all they could muster up was a reading of 20X10^9 Ohms. I was
puzzled why they needed less and they explained "their" dictionary
described Billion as a million, million. I told them that was the
british Billion but only after proving it to their Captain - the sub
wasn't going to cast off without that check item and there was a lot
of brass looking over our shoulders as I balanced the bridge. As it
was in the common passage way to Sherwood Forest, someone invariable
had to clamber past and would peg the meter for a minute or two.
After about an hour I got back to my rack. I really did like the
Diesel Boats better.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC,
ET1, HMFIC, Uncle Sam's Canoe Club, 1968-1975