Help me identify a vintage electric component - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ball
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 03:12:11 pm
content: Hello. I found this odd vintage electric component in the middle of nowhere (on a mountain). It has two wire-wrap-like posts connected to six thick metal plates which are soldered/welded together by hand. There is matting between the plates of unknown fibrous material and it's housed in a clear green plastic shell that was clearly never sealed.I thought at first maybe it was some weird custom battey but it isn't sealed. Then maybe a ballast resistor but then it's housed in plastic. What could it be? A sensor?

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 05:55:29 pm
content: A home made capacitor maybe.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 06:05:55 pm
content: It does look a bit like the internal bit, inside an electro-magnetic door lock. I.e. The internal 2 wire coil assembly part.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 06:23:03 pm
content: Quote from: ball on March 02, 2021, 03:12:11 pmWhat are the plates made out of? I would guess either battery of some sort or a moisture sensor.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 06:59:54 pm
content: I would bet that it is a lead acid battery; or what is left of one. The pointed electrodes are to penetrate a rubbery coating on a rescue strobe and the acid would be in a separate plastic bag or thin glass ampule to be broken and activate the cell. Probably from an air force parachute harness or perhaps a weather balloon.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 07:24:18 pm
content: Beware, that fibrous material could be asbestos. Keep it together, in a sealed container and ask you local authority about disposal.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2021, 09:16:23 pm
content: Quote from: Gregg on March 02, 2021, 06:59:54 pmWas thinking water activated battery from a weather ballon sonde but it looks *big* for thathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-activated_battery

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2021, 01:10:52 am
content: If the plates are lead then it is probably lead-acid.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2021, 01:33:35 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on March 02, 2021, 06:05:55 pmNo, there is nothing 'magnetic' like that, in the photo...In digressing (as I'm apt to do! haha...), Mag-Locks always caused problems in a lot of systems!They often have a 'built-in' alarm point sensor, and if the 'Mag' is de-energized, this causes an alarm, as ifthe 'door' has been opened, even if it has not been opened. This sounds ok, but usually the system hasbeen programmed to cancel the remaining un-lock time after the door is physically pulled open. As a result,they automatically re-lock about .5 sec after say an access card has been presented!! Argh!!

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2021, 01:40:29 pm
content: Quote from: GlennSprigg on March 03, 2021, 01:33:35 pmDon't worry, as the thread responses occurred. I also concurred (poem), that it seems to be some sort of battery. On re-looking at the photograph, much more carefully. I can see, the individual cells (presumably), with the plates, insulators/separators and filling material(s).Somehow, a long time ago, I saw (possibly regularly), what I think (but could be wrong), was a similar looking electro-magnetic lock, thing (although it was much smaller, and only had one element section). Which is why I posted that suggestion.It is probably easier to see and examine these items in real life, and maybe make some simple electrical tests and possibly see if a magnet is attracted to the metal(s), etc etc. To more accurately and quickly determine what it is.tl;drThis thread changed my mind (I wasn't sure, anyway), it does seem to be some sort of battery.

author: msuffidy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2021, 05:01:15 am
content: Looks like a prisoner wood carving from Norman Cross Prison.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 05:29:49 am
content: If we go with the battery theory, it could be from a ballistic shell or missile, those have seperated electrolyte batteries that start from G-force when fired to activate instruments.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 06:12:31 am
content: Mountains are sometimes shelled for avalanche control, but I kinda doubt they're using electronic fuzes for that.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 07:42:31 am
content: US army BB-52 36V lead acid radiosonde battery, 1946https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/36v-battery-ready-for-use-lead-acid-bb-52-bb52-us-army-1946-radiosonde-ml-128-150323075.htmEDIT: yes, it's from a balloon.https://radionerds.com/index.php/BB_-_Storage_Batteries#BB-52

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 08:01:47 am
content: Could also be the 6V filament battery, BB-51BB-52 packaging and instructions

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 02:35:16 pm
content: Great find!Probably the 6V version as OP mentioned it has 6 plates.More interesting information here (see page 39):https://archive.org/details/TM11-430I wonder if whatever it was powering is also somewhere nearby on that mountain...

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 09:35:51 pm
content: The EEV-sleuth of the year award goes to Cyberdragon.Great find!

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 01:23:24 am
content: I had betted on a bathtub capacitor. LOL. After a while searching on the web I gave up. Really great find.

author: ball
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 01:46:20 am
content: Hey guys sorry I wasnt getting updates of the thread for whatever reason.Wow, I didnt think it would be that old given the plastic housing! Thanks for solving the mystery!

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 04:34:53 am
content: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon#Historywas invented in the 1930s.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)#Historywas also invented in the 1930s.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene#Historyfrom the same time period.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate#Historywas patented in 1941.The first plastics are from the mid 19th century (celluloid etc.)

author: ball
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 06:10:48 am
content: I'm aware, but it wasn't exactly in common use

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 06:39:42 am
content: Quote from: ball on March 07, 2021, 06:10:48 amIt was to an extent, and bakelite has been in wide use since the early 1900s, so has cellulose acetate.

author: ball
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 06:41:36 am
content: It clearly wasn't bakelite. Not sure why you would even bring that up

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 08:40:42 am
content: Quote from: ball on March 07, 2021, 06:41:36 amI think the point was made to show that plastics have been in common use for an *awfully* long time.