The New Navy

[AVGWarhawk]

In a submarine...silence is golden....

[Jimbuna]

That's nothing....here in the RN we're about to issue the crew with ear protectors so they don't become alarmed at the grating noise the keel makes as our subs run aground

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

That's nothing....here in the RN we're about to issue the crew with ear protectors so they don't become alarmed at the grating noise the keel makes as our subs run aground

The world's only amphibious SSN fleet

[MaddogK]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

In a submarine...silence is golden....

I doubt anyones sonar gear could pick up a noisy lamp ballast. My comment was meant for the wuss who can't sleep with the light OFF, and complains that it was too noisy.

BOO-HOO

[Tchocky]

can't you classify contacs based on the alternating current, 50 or 60 hertz means Russian/US and so on?

[MaddogK]

Sure, but the hum from a ballast isn't exactly detectable, like the sound of the tube from your TV powering up.

[Gargamel]

To be honest guys, this is a valid complaint.

A lot of malls use fluorescent lights that have been 'tuned' to emit certain high frequency noise. It is usually aimed at adolescent age ears (which can by nature hear a high frequency, this disappears as we age) to prevent loitering in the malls. My brother and I used to get insane migraines whenever my mom would take us to Sears at the mall. She thought we were just faking it till we found an article in a magazine about it.

So imagine the Navy orders premium..... errrr....... lowest bidder light bulbs, which just happen to have poorly made ballast that happen to emit this range of frequencies. Now look at your demographic for enlisted crew, post-pubescent males.


Just noticed there is only one complaint, but still, betcha many others have heard it and not complained.

Anyways, SSL lighting is more power effecient, and won't break as easily.

[flatsixes]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

To be honest guys, this is a valid complaint.

Well, in my day no sailor ever complained about anything that wasn't 100% valid. And I'm sure that long-standing naval tradition extends down the line to the fine young men (and women) keeping the sea lanes open today! (But I'll be sure to ask my son.)

All kidding aside, I don't think it ever got quiet enough aboard my ship, the USS Torp Target, to hear the movie on mess decks, much less be bothered by the hum of a "bedside lamp." Sure must be awfully quite down there.

[MaddogK]

Your day, my day and today are on 3 different planets.

Thank you for your service, thank your son for me too.

I remember (in my day) pulling 8 hours in the forward scullery every day (was assigned TAD- ships company) AND 2-4 hour daily squadron training AND 3 hour flights (every other day PLUS brief/debrief time (2+ hours)). This was normal for me. I didn't need earplugs as I was so tired I could sleep thru flight ops above me and not wake up. I would've had to struggle to hear a lamp ballast humming.

Yes, I was borderline insane when I got off the ship after 9+ months.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by flatsixes

All kidding aside, I don't think it ever got quiet enough aboard my ship, the USS Torp Target, to hear the movie on mess decks, much less be bothered by the hum of a "bedside lamp." Sure must be awfully quite down there.

Think dog whistle type noise. Constant ringing squelch in the ear. But the only way to describe it to another person is like a high pitched hum.

“The fluorescent version of the berth light found in every sailor’s sleeping area runs at over ten watts and is a legendary maintenance headache due to starter and lamp failures,” Buelow added. “Because of TechSolutions’ work with Energy Focus, the fleet now has a qualified LED version that runs at five watts, delivers the same light output and will last for a decade without maintenance.”

Well that alone is probably worth replacing them.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

I doubt anyones sonar gear could pick up a noisy lamp ballast.

Sonar won't, but would an underwater SIGINT detector work?

[MaddogK]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Sonar won't, but would an underwater SIGINT detector work?

Water makes a wonderful insulator, RF noise doesn't propagate under water. Unless its a fairly loud audible sound or creates a large magnetic field a single lamp ballast would be invisible to any detector not within a few inches of the source. The ships generator is barely detectable by OUR guys.

Of course the 'black hats' may have come up with something that nobody knows about, remember they can see the printing on a matchbook cover on earth from an orbiting satellite.