Lucien's most challenging picture puzzle yet... what does this box do?

Lucien Nunes · Apr 27, 2018

You've seen some curious stuff in my vintage picture puzzles before but what can you make of this black box? I want to know not only what's inside but also its main electrical specifications; there are two in particular for which I need the actual figures.

There will be a few picture clues to help you along...

[ElectriciansForums.net] Lucien's most challenging picture puzzle yet... what does this box do?

Pete999 · Apr 27, 2018

Pete999 said:
No one else bothered to join in the fun the Lucien, best you coughup and tell us what it is.

Not you an all?

DPG said:
Is it at an old waterworks?

LOL

Lucien Nunes said:
The thin thing is the handle of a rake, and the small pipe is a vent. These details aren't really of any importance. The presence and function of the big pipe help to set the scene and give some insight into the electrical situation that will become more apparent in the next pic. In the meantime, I have some work to do.

A flow Meter of some sort?,or a Thermograph

Squid · Apr 27, 2018

In the toilets at Bush Green they used to have Goldfish in the toilet cisterns years back, useless info i know but what the hell.........

SparkyChick · Apr 27, 2018

Lucien Nunes said:
the electrical situation that will become more apparent in the next pic. In the meantime, I have some work to do.

TEASE!

I was hoping by the time I'd been out and done the shopping they'd be more pics

Deleted member 26818 · Apr 27, 2018

Looks like an ammo box.

Darkwood · Apr 27, 2018

I reckon that is a pipe for expelling in quick time a hazard from the building, the box is monitoring the possible hazard and act as an warning system.... or something along those lines, it may be sampling the toxicity of the air because of a chemical used and in an emergency you open the pipe.

telectrix · Apr 27, 2018

darkwood said:
I reckon that is a pipe for expelling in quick time a hazard from the building, the box is monitoring the possible hazard and act as an warning system.... or something along those lines, it may be sampling the toxicity of the air because of a chemical used and in an emergency you open the pipe.

it's a Fart Alert System then?

Darkwood · Apr 27, 2018

Only if they followed through Tel'

Lucien Nunes · Apr 27, 2018

Look, the box doesn't ontrol the pipe and the pipe doesn't control the box, OK? I'll put another pic up tonight...

Darkwood · Apr 27, 2018

Never said it did just said it was a warning so expect a manual action ... but guessing I'm wrong from that comment

Baker1988 · Apr 27, 2018

Is it just a empty plastic box? I had one just like this on a site where trunking was being installed the lads i worked with basically went around the box with the trunking from one side up over the top and back down like a arch and carryed on and when i went to look at it i pointed out it was empty and they should of just took the box away and gone straight haha

static zap · Apr 28, 2018

Pure guess , early microwave - water detector .
( flood prevention ? )

PEG · Apr 28, 2018

Is resistance a feature of any of it's functions?

telectrix · Apr 28, 2018

resistance is futile.

Pete999 · Apr 28, 2018

telectrix said:
resistance is futile.

View attachment 41958

He was a good Borg Huw if I recal

Pete999 · Apr 28, 2018

telectrix said:
resistance is futile.

View attachment 41958

Now I know, it's part of a Borg Saturation Chamber.

Pete999 · Apr 28, 2018

Lucien, where is the picture you promised us, I got fed up with waiting, never got to sleep until it was time to get up, come on mate fairs fair, another clue pretty pleases, be a good boy.

Lucien Nunes · Apr 28, 2018

Here you are then. Lot of pressure last night, didn't finish work until 1am and just collapsed into bed, I'd been going since 5am on 3 hours sleep the night before.

As before, the sockets aren't part of the function of the box, but they tell you about the circumstances in which it was used. I've no idea about the discolouration on the 15A, you can ignore that.

The box is neither empty nor airtight; there are catches to hold the hinged lid shut - I don't know why, screws would have been adequate. Although the box is original to the purpose and still has a data plate on the top, the equipment inside might have been replaced at some time during its life. I don't know how similar the present equipment is to the original, but it is exactly what I expected to find in there.

Pete999 · Apr 28, 2018

Is that all we get? a couple of carpy socket outlets, did your School report ever say "could do better" ?

marconi · Apr 28, 2018

...tell you about the circumstances...

1. An old electrical installation.
2. Maybe a requirement to separate or switch the supply to equipments using plug pin shape.
3. 15A - so a possibly a large current load - 3kW heater?
4. Maybe supply kVA is limited so socket type is used to supply sheddable and non-sheddable loads? Or regulated non-regulated voltage supplies?
5. 240V installation line to neutral.
6. Earthed system.

Lucien Nunes · Apr 28, 2018

A lot of thought goes into these things. I've been agonising for hours on whether to show the sockets next or something else. And the picture edits... so well done it's almost art. Look at that first pic for example. Why is it framed exactly the way it is?

Lucien Nunes · Apr 28, 2018

1 - yes, originally, but well maintained and strategically updated.
2 - yes.
3 - not necessarily but in this case yes.
4 - no.
5 - yes.

Work is getting busy now so might be away for a bit.

Pete999 · Apr 28, 2018

A 2 pole filter

andyb · Apr 28, 2018

Is it an inverter? maybe a small hydro installation?

Lucien Nunes · Apr 28, 2018

Now we're getting somewhere. I need the correct name for the device in the box, and the specifications of its output. There is another one in the house but this one is different in a specific way. To know why it is different, you need to identify what else is in that first picture.

andyb · Apr 28, 2018

Maybe a transformer then to step the voltage down.

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Squid

Deleted member 26818

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