A427A Load Bank GovPlanet

[majoday]

I saw these and put in a bid. One is Serial # 2 and the other is S/N 4. So they are quite old. The TM has a line: This manual supersedes TM 5-6115-453-12,7 March 1969. So these are probably from that early date. Printed on them are these markings: FMS AHATS. The winning bid was $220. The box is steel and weighs 250Lbs. Included were 3 sets of cables: 4/4, 6/4 and 4 individual cables 4. There were no manuals or records. One had writing indicating that V2 had a link problem. Both have rust spots on the top.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Real nice equipment! I had one for a short while, and wish I had a genset big enough to really make it flex its muscle. I sold it to a chap in TX who had a 30KW machine (Steel Soldiers member).

You will enjoy it when you have gone through it!

Video note: This is a nonpublic video... set up to show it working for the guy who bought it. Disregard wire color choice and corresponding lugs... they line up right, but dont follow typical wiring methodology of jacket color and expected positioning. The test was with the machine in 3PH so I reused the ground wire for the second leg (with a separate grounding cable). I made work what I had left over from a chopped 30A cable.

 

[nextalcupfan]

I wonder if you picked yours up at the same place I got my 803a. (I've seen in other posts you got these in Kansas)

 

[majoday]

Real nice equipment! I had one for a short while, and wish I had a genset big enough to really make it flex its muscle. I sold it to a chap in TX who had a 30KW machine (Steel Soldiers member).

You will enjoy it when you have gone through it!

Video note: This is a nonpublic video... set up to show it working for the guy who bought it. Disregard wire color choice and corresponding lugs... they line up right, but dont follow typical wiring methodology of jacket color and expected positioning. The test was with the machine in 3PH so I reused the ground wire for the second leg (with a separate grounding cable). I made work what I had left over from a chopped 30A cable.

Thank you. I am a visual learner. It always helps me to read and then to see and lastly, to do!

 

[majoday]

Cleaning up rust. OSPHO (Mild solution of phosphoric acid. Sand/scrape rust until porous, spray on the rust. Iron Oxide turns to Iron Phosphate. Paint soon after sanding. Hot today on the farm, did some work, at 75 heat matters.Nothing looked burned or heat affected. The silicon Bridge replace the old Selenium Stack (A Mod along the way) Typical of both. S/N 4 had a lot of screw connections needing a turn. My RTTY friend and Airman, over 50 years ago gave me a ratchet like screwdriver, 3" long, perfect for the job, seldom used. Lineage: FMS/AHATS ? USAF) & A Co, 834 (ARNG?) or (Army Res?)

 

[majoday]

I wonder if you picked yours up at the same place I got my 803a. (I've seen in other posts you got these in Kansas)

The site was 2175 Deer Road, Abilene, KS. They were most gracious. Customer Service indicated I would have to wait until Tuesday to pick up. I called the MGR (Chris), he invited me to come in for load out. The three, John Ret. Army and fmr Army Wes and Mike, helped me load on Monday and we left to visit a niece in Ardmore., OK. Betty enjoyed the trip and I give her high praise for going on the adventure.

 

[nextalcupfan]

The site was 2175 Deer Road, Abilene, KS. They were most gracious. Customer Service indicated I would have to wait until Tuesday to pick up. I called the MGR (Chris), he invited me to come in for load out. The three, John Ret. Army and fmr Army Wes and Mike, helped me load on Monday and we left to visit a niece in Ardmore., OK. Betty enjoyed the trip and I give her high praise for going on the adventure.

Close, I picked up my 803a from Junction City, KS

 

[majoday]

They may be in transition. My literature was Junction City, but the address was Abilene. I called the Abilene site and found the L/B's there.

 

[majoday]

The following are pictures after I put the panels back on the GenSet. I modified one panel to ease maintenance of auxiliary fuel components. The piano hinge is aluminum as are the rivets. 2 bolts and 3 screws and I have access. As with any modification, after reflecting on the finished product I noted a couple of minor improvements. The last picture is of 2 links of ground rods. I had not previously found them, unless I did and have forgotten. I put these pictures here because I am now ready to test the set. I will place the ground rod near my shop. The neutral and ground are bonded for the test. The cables are ready. The Load Banks need some final touches and placement in a good spot.

 

[Daybreak]

The Essex A427 load bank fits nicely on a metal garden wagon.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Do you have the coupler parts for those ground rods to put them together, or are you using the one piece bar next to it for your grounding purposes?

 

[majoday]

Do you have the coupler parts for those ground rods to put them together, or are you using the one piece bar next to it for your grounding purposes?

I found the coupler parts early on. I cannot recall ever seeing the rods. I am putting the 1 piece G/R in near my shop. I need it when working on my smaller gensets. I will place the 2 pieces in the storage in the frame.

 

[majoday]

The Essex A427 load bank fits nicely on a metal garden wagon.

Thank you! I believe that would work well out here on the farm.

 

[reallybigboat]

Real nice equipment! I had one for a short while, and wish I had a genset big enough to really make it flex its muscle. I sold it to a chap in TX who had a 30KW machine (Steel Soldiers member).

You will enjoy it when you have gone through it!

Video note: This is a nonpublic video... set up to show it working for the guy who bought it. Disregard wire color choice and corresponding lugs... they line up right, but dont follow typical wiring methodology of jacket color and expected positioning. The test was with the machine in 3PH so I reused the ground wire for the second leg (with a separate grounding cable). I made work what I had left over from a chopped 30A cable.

I'm the chap in Texas! Lol!

 

[Light in the Dark]

I'm the chap in Texas! Lol!

How's it holding up?

 

[Guyfang]

Make sure you ground them WELL! I used them for 20 active, and another almost 10 years as a contractor. Never had a problem. A good friend of me didn't ground them very well. He had to go into early retirement. Medivac to William Beaumont hospital.