What Is Sum1 Up To Today?

A Memory From Around 1976

         On my first boat (USS Theodore Roosevelt), one of the R12's (Yes, R12, they were never converted to newer cooling (R114?) systems while I was on board (Aug 74-Oct 78).  There was a vertical pipe in front of it, about 8 inches from the cover.  You get the picture.  We needed all 5 R12's operating, else NavCenter overheated (>65F, maybe 70F) I think.  It was a burned out main contactor, so we pulled the whole assembly while it was tagged out. We had to, you couldn't pull the main contactor with it installed.

         Everything was replaced satisfactory, but we had to do a rotation check on the main pump, so the cover was left off.  Rotation check was good.  I was ordered to put the cover back on, while it was still energized!  I was warned not to allow the cover top portion to fall into the controller, since the 440VAC contacts at the top supplying power to it were exposed, and to keep my arms clear of those contacts.  (I didn't get shocked at least)  Yep, it was a very old assembly.  Shades of OSHA!  What would they have said?

         You can guess what happened next.  The thing is, I have no idea how I teleported about 10 ft. back from the controller.  I was told a Fireball flew out out the switchgear in ERUL (Engfine Room Upper Level) across the narrow passageway and over the floor of Maneuvering where it dissipated against the equipment there.  Needless to say, it was briefly tagged out to get that cover installed.