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

[Lucien Nunes]

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...

 

[telectrix]

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]

Only if they followed through Tel'

 

[Lucien Nunes]

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]

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

 

[Baker1988]

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]

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

 

[PEG]

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

 

[telectrix]

resistance is futile.

 

[Pete999]

resistance is futile.

View attachment 41958

He was a good Borg Huw if I recal

 

[Pete999]

resistance is futile.

View attachment 41958

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

 

[Pete999]

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]

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]

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

 

[marconi]

...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]

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?