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VK2AAB > INFO 05.07.02 20:59l 36 Lines 1579 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 7170_VK2AAB
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Re: Carbon Arc
Path: DB0FHN<DB0ZWI<DB0CHZ<OK0PKL<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<SP7MGD<VK7AX<VK2CZR<VK2TGB<
VK2IO<VK2WI<VK2AAB
Sent: 020702/2147Z @:VK2AAB.SYD.NSW.AUS.OC #:7170 [SYDNEY] FBB7.00i $:7170_VK2A
From: VK2AAB@VK2AAB.SYD.NSW.AUS.OC
To : INFO@WW
Harry M1BYT asked about carbon pile regulators.
They were very common on generator sets used for standby power supplies.
I once worked in a section of the PMG's dept that looked after the generator
sets used in telephone exchanges.
They had carbon pile regulators which controlled the field current of the
alternator and so the controlled the 415 volt 3 phase output.
Some one asked about salt water tank controllers. Well I never saw one of
those but to test under load the abover generator sets we had a 44 gallon drum
which we filled with water. We had a three plate frame to which each phase was
connected and was lowered into the water to adjust the load. The neutral was
connected to the drum.
The plates were half immearsed and then salt added until we got near full
load. We could then adjust the load rapidly and adjust the carbon pile until
the output regulation was spot on. It only took a short time to bring the
water to near boiling point.
It looked leathal but it was only used by us at the workshop when
reconditioning these generator sets. They were ex-military sets and comprised
a Ford V8 engines and a 25KVA akternator.
We also looked after much bigger plant used at broadcast stations for
standby sets.
All this reminds me of the 600 volt DC mains which were available in the
Sydney CBD at that time. It was used for the trams as well as for lifts in
older buildings such as the GPO in Sydney, and there in lies many a tale.
73 Barry VK2AAB
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