PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-624
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 624
NOVEMBER 2004
7)
Rubber and rubber compounds
become stiff and brittle as tempera-
tures plunge. In cold weather, cables
and wire should be flexed slowly and
carefully to keep them from cracking
and breaking.
8)
Lube,
but
don’t
over-lube.
Lubricants can get stiff in cold
weather and fail to do their job. One
key to lubing in the cold is frequent
checks to make sure lube hasn’t got-
ten stiff. Another key is frequently
applying lube. Use lighter lubes, too!
9)
Plugs, jacks, keys, shafts, bearings,
dials, and switches can malfunction
due to contraction of metal parts in
extreme cold. Check them often and
keep them warm and clean.
10)
Make sure all motors and fans
run freely. Snow and ice build-up can
shut down a critical fan and kill a
much-needed motor.
11)
Make sure all knobs and controls
move easily. Stiff controls might indi-
cate a frozen moisture problem.
12)
Any equipment that generates
heat during operation will “breathe”
or draw in cold air as the equipment
cools. If heated equipment is
brought into contact with extremely
cold air, the glass, plastic and ceram-
ic parts may break. So give hot
equipment time to cool down before
taking it out of a shelter into the
cold.
PS 624
NOV 04
41
Cold Weather…
12 Commo Tips:
prevent the frozen chosen
Here are an
even dozen
cold-weather
commo tips that
will keep your
commo thawed
this winter…
…and ensure
your equipment
does not
become part
of The
Frozen
Chosen…
1)
Carry small batteries inside
your clothes to keep them warm.
Reactivate cold-soaked batteries
by warming them under your
clothes.
2)
If a radio set must be set up
outside, put it in a sheltered
place. A wind block, like a lean-
to, helps keep sets away from
direct exposure to cold air.
3)
Raise
cables
above
the
ground to keep them from freez-
ing to the ground. Use poles or
tree limbs to raise the cables.
If you can’t get cables off the
ground, keep them out from
under the snow. Pull them free
after every snowfall. A cable hid-
den under snow is hard to find
except when it’s pulled loose by
a big foot or run over by a track.
4)
Check antenna systems often
and remove snow, ice or slush
that might diminish your signal
or create a “falling ice” hazard.
5)
Put frost shields over micro-
phones. If you don’t have a
shield, or your handset doesn’t
have a place to fit one, a piece of
plastic—like a battery bag—will
do the job.
6)
Remove all snow, ice, water
and dirt from cable connections
before connecting them. You’ll
get a poor connection or broken
connectors, if you don’t.
I keep
getting
pulled
loose by
tracks
and big
foots!
you
need a
raise!
don’t
worry
little
handset,
we’ll be
safe here
from the
cold air.
oh, no! I
think we’re
frozen
solid!
someone
help!!
we’d love to
help, but if we
don’t move
slowly and
carefully--
we’ll
break!
624.40-41(C!)
9/24/04
11:42 AM
Page 1
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