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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.:o
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!:03:
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. :hmmm:

Pure guesswork though, good question. :)
Spike88
12-23-09, 07:04 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. :hmmm:

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. :D
Sailor Steve
12-23-09, 07:24 PM
I guess not, if that theory holds water. :D
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. :doh:
Sailor Steve
12-23-09, 08:06 PM
Ow, I think I pulled something. :doh:
Maybe the plug? Personally I think you're all wet.
:lost:



[edit]Oh great. Given your screen name, I think I'll go stand somewhere else now.:rotfl2:
Arclight
12-24-09, 05:18 AM
Maybe the plug? Personally I think you're all wet.
:lost:

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

[edit]Oh great. Given your screen name, I think I'll go stand somewhere else now.:rotfl2:
Have no fear, carpet-bombing is here. :lol:
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 (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 (http://www.uboat.net/articles/id/54)