PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-675

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 675

FEBRUARY 2009
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-675 - Page 22 of 33
40
PS 675
FEB 09
41
PS 675
FEB 09
How do new commo batteries get baked?
Well, sometimes it happens in transit. The supply train between you and the manufacturer
might be a long one. And that train may make a stop or two in some very hot areas. Sitting
in the Kuwaiti sun for a day before they arrive at your Iraqi commo shop is a low spot in a
battery’s short shelf-life.
Sometimes it happens in your storage CONEX. The air temperature in a closed CONEX
under the hot sun could easily suck the life out of your batteries.
With this in mind, it’s important to check new batteries for a charge, even AAs. Even
alkaline (AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt) commercial batteries should be checked prior to use to
ensure heat has not fried them. Check them in your equipment or use ZTS tester, NSN 6625-
01-494-9163.
If you’re using batteries in an ASIP manpack, the Frst choice is the lithium rechargeable,
BB-2590/U, NSN 6140-01-490-4316. It does a good job in the heat, but you need a place below
122°± to charge it.
If you can’t consistently Fnd a cool place for charging, use the BA-5390, NSN 6135-01-501-
0833, without a state-of-charge indicator (SOCI), or NSN 6135-01-517-6060 with an SOCI.
If you have neither of the above to choose from, use the BA-5590, NSN 6135-01-438-9450,
without the SOCI, and NSN 6135-01-523-3037 with the SOCI.
Don’t use the BB-390B/U, NSN 6140-01-490-4317. It does not do the job it should in the
heat and it cannot be charged in high temperatures.
Dear Editor,
The AN/TSC-85 and -93 satellite communications terminals have at
least one rack that has the AM-6701/TSC high power amplifier (HPA) and
the PP-8530/TSC high voltage power supply (HVPS). After doing repair
or PM to either of these chassis, there is plenty of thick cabling that also
goes along for the ride when sliding a chassis back into the rack.
Too often that ride is not a good one. Cables kink, pinch and bind. This
leads to fraying and severing. Damaging one of the cables could trip a
breaker, possibly a main breaker, deadlining a rack, if not the entire terminal.
Nobody wants to have to explain a system outage. If cable resistance is
felt, or there’s a “spongy” feeling while sliding an HPA or HVPS back into
the rack, make sure a cable is not getting in the way. Don’t just shove until
the resistance is gone. Move a wiring harness out from between a slide and
the chassis or otherwise out of harm’s way.
Tony Blais
CECOM LCMC
Ft Monmouth, NJ
Editor’s note:
Mr. B
.
points out a problem with which we’re all familiar. Whether
it’s at home with our personal electronic equipment or in the shop, when cabling
gets in the way of installation, we like to give it that extra push. Usually, we get
away with it. But every once in a while, it bites us in the butt! Apparently, in the
case of the AM-6701/TSC and PP-8530/TSC, it’s biting way too often. So, Fght the
kink and resist the shove!
Commo Batteries…
when
too hot
is
not
cool!
AN/TSC-85, -93…
Fight the Kink!
Resist the Shove
hey guy,
take it easy
over there.
you could
damage
some cables
in there!
when your
momma bakes
a cake, you
know you’re in
for a treat.
when your new
batteries are
baked,
you could be in for a
tragedy.
ohh…this
isn’t
going
to end
well, is it?
675.40-41.indd
1-2
12/24/08
9:22:27 AM
T.B.
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