Old equipment

[James]

Just thought I would share a few pics.
Fairground generator

 

[James]

Best add 5 more words

 

[James]

Fuse I had to replace a few days ago, next to a 13A plug fuse

 

[telectrix]

View attachment 51480
Best add 5 more words

that's a work of art. and so will be the steam traction engine driving it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

They don't build em like that anymore ,

 

[DPG]

Can't beat big alternators and proper old style meters. Lovely. And the smell of a steam rally is one of the best smells ever.

What's the big fuse out of?

 

[buzzlightyear]

View attachment 51487 boy the last time I saw one of them was the main fuse for blackpool tower lights .lol.

 

[James]

The big fuse is out of a switched isolator built into a machine panel.
Estimate it is about 1960 to 70 era.

It was a strange fault. Tested continuity fine when power was off.
Power up machine, fuse was dropping 100v for about 10 sec then went open circuit.
Leave off for a few min and it tested continuity ok again.

 

[buzzlightyear]

If you cannot find a fuse you could always use a 6 in nail doubled up.lol.

 

[StephenRowley]

Fuse wire getting hot, then it its melts then the power off hards back into some find of conductive path.

 

[Megawatt]

Fuse wire getting hot, then it its melts then the power off hards back into some find of conductive path.

Have you put an amp probe on it ?

 

[James]

Have you put an amp probe on it ?

No, it was not required.
all the fault finding required was completed with a volt / continuity tester.

diagnosis, fuse has failed in an unusual way.

repair was to replace 3 off fuses in isolator with copper bars machined to correct size.

oh yes and put an inline 3 pole 32A circuit breaker in the panel as main breaker.

It didn't need to be a fused isolator, but I put the breaker in as a belt and braces approach.
isolator with door interlock would have been a real mess to change for modern switch because of the fancy handle arrangement.

machine returned to service.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If I'm seeing it right on my phone screen that dynamo is a Mather & Platt P8C, 270A output at 110V. They make a very characteristic slot-ripple sound that on a showmans has the gentle cyclic variation at crank rpm. That, and the sound of the engine driving it, are part of a unique sensory experience that includes the chuffing of engines manoeuvring in the distance, the smell of coal, hot dogs and mown grass, the rumble of an idling Gardner 6LW and three organs all playing in different keys!

 

[pirate]

Gardner 6LW!!!
Almost weeping here...

 

[telectrix]

my bus had a Gardner 6LX.