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ZS6ABU > TECH 28.09.11 18:21l 44 Lines 1701 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 9C0005ZS6ABU
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: A ton per cell battery
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<VE3UIL<ZS0MEE
Sent: 110928/1717Z @:ZS0MEE.SRJ.GAU.ZAF.AF #:53595 [Johannesburg] $:9C0005ZS6AB
From: ZS6ABU@ZS0MEE.SRJ.GAU.ZAF.AF
To : TECH@WW
Hi John and other readers,
This big battery article reminds me of 1964 when I was sent to the Joubert
Park exchange in Johannesburg as a student. We had to construct the huge
batteries from scratch.
First, after the lead lining was put into the wooden casings, they were
filled with water from the fire hose to check for leaks. This was boring,
but when the cells were emptied, the "fun" started. We used hand pumps to
pump the 100 gallons of water per cell onto the pavement one floor below.
Everything went well and the pedestrians dodged the water nicely, and then
a geeky sort of guy came along and didn't dodge. He got the full blast
and complained to the engineer. The outcome: we (poor students) had to
buy him a new suit.
We did try our hand at some crude welding direct from the 50V DC and it
burnt (melted) huge, thick pieces of whatever "welding rods" we used.
Dormitary room keys as well!
I can also remember the large banks of electrolytic capacitors in the
charger. It must have been at least a Farad!
I can also remember the heavy box with lead components being dropped by a
fellow student and it fell on my left knee. The good thing was that I had
to have a cartilage operation and got relieved from building batteries.
The pain, well, I can still remember that. And the end of sport for me.
Just think of the athlete the world got deprived of! I can still do a
litre of ice-cream in 20 minutes!
Thanks for the lovely reminder, John. How about the other readers of
"TECH" telling us of their experiences?
73 - Martin, ZS6ABU @ ZS0MEE
Message timed: 19:12 on 2011-Sep-28
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