PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-571
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 571
JUNE 2000
Dear Half-Mast,
During our 6-month mission in
Kosovo, we estimate the 3/504th
Parachute Infantry Regiment
saved more than a half million
dollars by using rechargeable
batteries instead of relying solely
on lithium batteries.
Here are a few things we learned
about rechargeable batteries that
need to be considered before
units deploy:
•
Make sure you replace all BB-
390 and BB-388 batteries that
cannot be charged to full capacity
after 2 hours of uninterrupted
charging (13.25 volts per section).
Dear Sergeant Reinhold,
Super job, Sergeant. You and the
soldiers of the 3/504th get a well-
deserved pat-on-the-back.
For more on rechargeable battery
equipment and how to determine
field requirements, see our March
issue, PS 568.
•
Bring high-capacity voltage
surge protectors for all electronic
systems including your chargers
because you’re going to encounter
some major league voltage
spiking.
SFC Brook Reinhold
3/504th Para Inf Regt
Ft Bragg, NC
Convert all PP-8444/U chargers,
NSN 6130-01-427-9604, to PP-
8444A/U, NSN 6130-01-443-
0970, by having your DS replace
the power supply board or order a
new charger.
The power supply board in the
PP-8444/U operates on 90-125
volts AC. Since overseas you’re
going to run into 220-volt power,
you’ll need to use a voltage
converter.
..and they don’t work
well with the chargers! In short
order, the power supply board in
your PP-8444/U will burn up.
The replacement power supply
board in the PP-8444A/U
operates on 100-250 volts AC, so
you won’t need that converter.
•
Pack enough portable radios,
pre-charged rechargeable
batteries, chargers and J-6518/U
multistation adapters to
establish your battalion level nets
immediately upon arrival.
•
Plan for the possibility that
your only immediate power supply
for recharging batteries might be
using the PP-8444A/U charger
connected to your vehicle. That
means having enough J-6363,
24-volt vehicular cables, NSN
5940-01-427-9395, on hand to
meet your needs.
•
Pack the batteries for
transportation in milk-type crates
to prevent damage.
•
Test all your chargers and
adapters. Replace the bad ones.
A good time to isolate both of
these problems is during the
training cycle preceding your
deployment.
and
away we
go!
don't
forget
me
!
back
off!
PS 571
53
JUN 00
PS 571
52
JUN 00
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