1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[David Dunlop]

Super Dave.

Just noticed in your Post 103 the last two photos nicely show the corner of the wall that Bruce Parker and I were talking about the other day. The Installation Manual for the 19-Set Equipment in these trucks indicates the Charging Board No.C5 is to be installed with it's four mounting brackets in this location and the sketch of said installation is a bit dodgy (possibly intended for the 2Gx Wireless Body Series) as it fails to include the copper buss bar and two main cable feeds running along the wall at this point. It gets even busier in that corner as I had forgotten about the pair of Enfield Racks in that location. Stow the two rifles and you have lost about another 6 inches of wall space.

David

[David Dunlop]

It is possible, there might be some confusion regarding the functions/requirements of the C5 Charging Board and the Fuse Panel/Distribution Box in the 2Kx Series of Wireless Boxes. Both perform similar functions but in two, entirely different ways.

The Fuse Panel/Distribution Box is permanently hardwired into the electrical circuitry of the WIRE-5 Body. It serves multiple functions within the wireless box, distributing power from the generators (either combination thereof) to the Wireless batteries, the lighting system and the power ventilating fan. It also provided circuit protection by means of fuses to these circuits. You can operate your 19-Set equipment within the wireless box until the cows come home the way this system is set up.

However, there may be circumstances arise, when the signals team have to leave the comforts of their wireless truck and set up operations with the 19-Set 500 yards away or more, possibly for several days, so in addition to the hardwired permanence of the basic wireless truck systems, critical pieces need to be portable on short notice to continue operation of the 19-set away from the truck. The wireless set on it's Carriers No. 23 goes, along with the batteries, the upper shelf (portable) chore horse, required cables and headsets. The two aerial leads are left hanging from the chimneys on the vehicle roof and you may or may not need the remote control units.

The one, critical thing you cannot take, is the Fuse Panel assembly since it is hardwired to the vehicle system. That is where the Switchboards Charging No.C5 Canadian comes in. It allows the signals team to continue charging the wireless batteries from the chore horse while operating the 19-Set away from the wireless truck. When everything is being run from inside the wireless truck, the No.C5 Switchboard assembly is no longer needed and must be stored somewhere. The manual suggests the four storage clips for it should go underneath the right rear window, in front of the Gen Box, but there is not enough room there to mount it when not in use. The other alternative when not in use is to store it in racks underneath the wireless table as is done with some other CMP Wireless vehicles.

So, if discussions about the location of the No.C5 Switchboard on the walls of the WIRE-5 lead any of you to believe this item was an integral part of the day to day operation of the WIRE-5, my apologies. It is strictly a travelling accessory for the 19-Set, to be taken from wherever it was stored and be used when away from home, and put away when one returns.

Hope this helps a bit.


David

[Robert Bergeron]

David,

You have just resolved , in a moment of pure genius . a riddle that has been unsolved for me for a very long time.

The C5 Canadian Charging Panel is a portable unit and has nothing to do with the Wire 5 box, ..unfortunately.

Now, we late restorers have to find the impossible to find .

Note: I have seen such a panel with the fuses and switches in a C60 L Machinery Lorry . Not that there are many around...

Oh well. The hunt continues .

[David Dunlop]

Robert.

The thanks are shared with Grant Bowker who took the time to PM me the presence of the potential confusion. Glad to help out, and like they say, if you are too old to learn, you are probably dead!


David

[super dave]

David, Do you have any pictures of the Onan generator that would be mounted on the lower shelf just in case one might stumble across one ??

[David Dunlop]

Sadly no photos. Just the photo hiding somewhere of the
Instructions for the shroud that ID the model of the Onan in question. I wrote Onan in the 1980's about that particular generator (pre internet form of communication) and got a reply it was so obsolete they could find nothing in their files about it. I think it had a two digit number and that is about it.

David

Just a late thought. If that shroud has a part number stamped on it, that might help ID the generator.

[Robert Bergeron]

Fabricated a generator compartment door today.

Fitted, rigged some hardware store hinges, painted and installed ,

Will post pictures when the second coat of paint goes on tomorrow .

Went for a ride in the countryside, with the snow and cold wind , pretty much like the winter of 44-45 in Holland were it would of fought.

For our troops deployed or about to be deployed overseas today i had a tought .