PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-569
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 569
APRIL 2000
Dear Editor,
Batteries are critical to the
MLRS. If just one launcher/loader
module (LLM) battery is weak, it
can cause faults that prevent you
from firing. Roughly 90 percent of
the MLRS problems we run into are
battery-related. Here are a couple
ways we’ve found to boost battery
performance:
Get a battery load tester. Using
a load tester, you can check the
entire battery at once without
having to check individual cells and
you get a truer picture of the
condition of the battery. The load
tester checks the load, state of
charge, cranking ability, and
charging system output.
It makes troubleshooting much
easier. It also makes it easier to
spot bad batteries BEFORE you go
to the field.
Multiple Launch Rocket System . . .
A good troubleshooting tip is to
make the batteries your first check
when you get self-test faults. If
they’re OK, make the generator
your second check. Make sure the
generator cables are securely
plugged in, the cable connections
aren’t corroded, the generator
wires aren’t frayed or
broken, and
there are no signs of arcing at the
generator terminals.
CW2 Joseph Carter
SSG Michael St. Cyr
Gary Wade
3/27th FA (MLRS)
Ft Bragg, NC
cables that run to the fuse box
on the right side of the engine
compartment.
Any auto parts store will have a
tester that will do the trick. Or
request NSN 6130-01-463-8499.
That brings five load testers.
Tie back the cables for the
generator. If cables lie on the
engine compartment floor, they will
soon be covered by water and oil.
They destroy cable insulation. Bare
wires can short out the whole
charging system. So use garbage
bag ties to tie the cables to the
hooray!
you
passed
the
battery load
test!
that's
a
load off
my
mind
.
✷
✷
Check
batteries
with load
tester
We’re really charged up about your battery suggestions. Another good idea is to
order inexpensive battery tools for your MLRS repairmen, since the MLRS tool
kit doesn’t have any. These tools will take care of most battery fixes:
Terminal puller, NSN
Brush, NSN 5120-00-926-5175
1
/
2
-in combination wrench,
NSN 5120-00-228-9506
PS 569
41
APR 00
PS 569
40
APR 00
Check wires,
cables, and
connectors
Tie back
generator
cables
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