Electrocution

Spike88 · 12-23-09, 04:01 PM

I was thinking about this the other day. Was Electrocution a common occurrence aboard WW2 era subs?

Say a light gets shattered or an electrical wire gets damaged during an attack, throw in some minor flooding and you have a recipe for disaster.

Sailor Steve · 12-23-09, 04:27 PM

Not that I'm aware of, but my attention to personal stories is somewhat lacking.

ETR3(SS) · 12-23-09, 05:20 PM

I would imagine that a fuse would blow, or a breaker would trip preventing just such an occurrence. But if you have flooding that can reach a broken light bulb, you've got bigger fish to fry.

Spike88 · 12-23-09, 05:26 PM

I guess part of the problem with electrocution, is that most of the ships that it could of possibly happened on probably wouldn't have any survivors.

ETR3(SS) · 12-23-09, 06:23 PM

Bingo!

Arclight · 12-23-09, 06:25 PM

I think the current would always flow to the hull; metal is a lot more conductive than seawater, and I think seawater is more conductive than a human body. So the current would always travel through the water to the hull, but never through a human.

Pure guesswork though, good question.

Spike88 · 12-23-09, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

I think the current would always flow to the hull; metal is a lot more conductive than seawater, and I think seawater is more conductive than a human body. So the current would always travel through the water to the hull, but never through a human.

Pure guesswork though, good question.

Now that I think about it. Is it even possible to get electrocuted while in the ocean?

Arclight · 12-23-09, 07:07 PM

I guess not, if that theory holds water.

Sailor Steve · 12-23-09, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

I guess not, if that theory holds water.

I'm shocked that you would have that opinion.

Arclight · 12-23-09, 07:34 PM

Why? It's just my current opinion. It's not like I'm volting to any conclusions, I'll leave that to watt's his name.

Ow, I think I pulled something.

Sailor Steve · 12-23-09, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

Ow, I think I pulled something.

Maybe the plug? Personally I think you're all wet.

[edit]Oh great. Given your screen name, I think I'll go stand somewhere else now.

Arclight · 12-24-09, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Maybe the plug? Personally I think you're all wet.

That might be, but I still have Amp-le time to dry off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

[edit]Oh great. Given your screen name, I think I'll go stand somewhere else now.

Have no fear, carpet-bombing is here.

Spoon 11th · 12-25-09, 03:32 PM

According to todays safety regulations safe level of voltage for humans is 120 volts of direct current. I found a page that says Type VII, IX and XXIII boats had 145 volt battery system, so I'd say that is still in the safe range. No harm done if the current flows through your body.

"Normal charging" (characterized by 2.34 Volt tension)."

(Thats 62 cells times 2.34 volts = 145.08 volts)

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUOrder2.htm

Addition:
Found from uboat.net article

Technical description of cells
full charged voltage 2.1 V (Volts) = 130 volts
charging voltage without gas up to 2.4 V = 148.8 volts

http://www.uboat.net/articles/id/54

12-23-09, 04:01 PM	#1
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Electrocution I was thinking about this the other day. Was Electrocution a common occurrence aboard WW2 era subs? Say a light gets shattered or an electrical wire gets damaged during an attack, throw in some minor flooding and you have a recipe for disaster. __________________

12-23-09, 04:27 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Not that I'm aware of, but my attention to personal stories is somewhat lacking. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-23-09, 05:20 PM	#3
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	I would imagine that a fuse would blow, or a breaker would trip preventing just such an occurrence. But if you have flooding that can reach a broken light bulb, you've got bigger fish to fry. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

12-23-09, 05:26 PM	#4
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	I guess part of the problem with electrocution, is that most of the ships that it could of possibly happened on probably wouldn't have any survivors. __________________

12-23-09, 06:23 PM	#5
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	Bingo! __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

12-23-09, 06:25 PM	#6
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	I think the current would always flow to the hull; metal is a lot more conductive than seawater, and I think seawater is more conductive than a human body. So the current would always travel through the water to the hull, but never through a human. Pure guesswork though, good question. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

12-23-09, 07:07 PM	#8
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	I guess not, if that theory holds water. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

12-23-09, 07:34 PM	#10
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Why? It's just my current opinion. It's not like I'm volting to any conclusions, I'll leave that to watt's his name. Ow, I think I pulled something. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

12-25-09, 03:32 PM	#13
Spoon 11th Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Finland Posts: 689 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	According to todays safety regulations safe level of voltage for humans is 120 volts of direct current. I found a page that says Type VII, IX and XXIII boats had 145 volt battery system, so I'd say that is still in the safe range. No harm done if the current flows through your body. "Normal charging" (characterized by 2.34 Volt tension)." (Thats 62 cells times 2.34 volts = 145.08 volts) http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUOrder2.htm Addition: Found from uboat.net article Technical description of cells full charged voltage 2.1 V (Volts) = 130 volts charging voltage without gas up to 2.4 V = 148.8 volts http://www.uboat.net/articles/id/54 Last edited by Spoon 11th; 12-25-09 at 04:15 PM.