Do I have an APU ?

and other stuff up in the air
Wolfman
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Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:42 am

I have been running a post in the radio and communications section on a power unit I have that I was just told could be an Air Power Unit for a bomber or large cargo plane ?????
Dates back to the early 40's.
The model is a PE-HH-42.
Not very big. One cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. 32 volt output.
Could easily fit into a larger aircraft.
All the numbers and details are in the other post.
Anyone heard of or know of such a thing ?
Mike Wolford
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Joe Gopan
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:38 am

Most likely for a WWII Radio Set.
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Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:47 am

That would be the most likely assumption.
I am a Vietnam era guy.
I could see a 32 volt generator output connected to my APC with a 28 volt system but were they running those kind of voltages in early WWII ?
I know a C-47 when I see one but I don't know what voltage they operated on.
Not that familiar with the old radio sets either.
Mike Wolford
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AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
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motto
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by motto » Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:39 am

Most US WW2 aircraft were 28 Volts DC.That includes C47. This voltage remains in use today in modern airliners though only as initiating and emergency stand by power.

I know for sure the B24 Liberator carried a little Auxiliary Power Unit to supply electrical power on the ground. I seem to remember the WW2 Flight Engineer I knew referring to it as a Putt Putt. I have no specifications.

32 Volts was a common voltage in rural or remote areas before connection to the grid. This was usually supplied by a heavy stationary engine but wind driven generators and battery banks were not uncommon.

David

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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:49 am

Many of the WWII Aircraft had the 2 Cycle Homelite 28V APU similar to those in some WWII Tanks.The one being discussed is likely part of a portable radio set.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:26 am

David's description that it sounded like a Putt Putt would fit. Especially if comparing it to a radial engine.
Definitely not a 2 cycle.
More like Grandpas old powered reel lawn mower. The Briggs engine even looks like a lawn mower engine. With a direct drive generator.
This has been a sticker.
The part that has kept me searching is that it looks original and has all the Army tags.
And it worksThis is the first intel that has appeared. Nothing on the radio & communtication section.
The search continues.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:52 am

I have a Korean War era TM-11 listing the PE units, it is buried in my stacks of TMs, when I get a chance I will try to find it. Maybe tonite, or tomorrow nite. I have more manuals than shelves.
Whatcha gonna do when you find out what the generator is for?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:05 am

Thanks for the help, Joel.
The original plan was to display it with GPW 964 at it's winter home in the museum .
Originally the thought was it was used to power a radio for the ground pounders.
Now it seems to be sprouting wings.
Since I am not the owner and I am just doing the leg work, where this unit is headed is a good question.
Hope you come up with something.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Joe Gopan
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:12 am

All I gotta do is dump out a few shelves and look for the TM, it is thin and they all look the same when they are in between each other.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:22 am

I can relate.
I have a small room that has all my books and manuals.
The daily users are on top.
Everything else settles into the mass. :lol:
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ? ( update )

Post by Wolfman » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:06 am

Seems I screwed up. :oops:
The model number for this unit is PE-HH-43. Not 42.
I found a web site called military Info.com.
Went to power generators and that led me to a link for the Army Signal Corp.
Under a power generator was, list # SCR-169 for a PE-HH-43 which was called a 28V Battery Charger.
This led me to go back and recheck the model number on the unit and discover my error.
It listed TM 11-302 as the 2 page tech. manual for this unit.
Go figure Joel. You said the TM you thought you had was really thin.
I don't have a log in or password for the site so not much more than this.
Still don't now where or how it was used.
Anyway. That's the latest intel I have come up with.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Joe Gopan
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:35 am

I have not dug thru my rack yet. We'll save the "wet sneaker award" for later. I also have a TM in my mess on WWII Shop equipment for vehicles, I'll take a look to see if it is in with the rest of the manuals. I did see a CHARGER, Battery, Portable, 12 Vol, 2000 Watt, Gasoline Engine Driven, in the TOOL SET, UNIT EQUIPMENT Second Echelon Set No. 2. It is not part of the PE Series tho.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:02 am

2012.
My how time fly's !
I started this back then and got off on other projects. ( Like to never found this post. )
First posted in the radio/ power unit section. No joy, so moved to Warbirds, since it might a GPU.
The PE HH-43 Army Signal Corp Power Unit has been sitting in a corner all this time and I finally pulled it back out.
Now that I am Retired. :lol:
Drained the fuel. New Non-Ethanol put in.
Cleaned the carb.
No Spark. Removed the flywheel & cleaned the points.
Had to remove the 70 year old horse hair from the oil bath air filter. The horse died a long time ago and the hair was catching up.
Got it started. Finally.
Like starting an old John Deere 2 cyl. tractor or Harley Pan Head. Figure out the proper technique or get use to walking home.
Hand wrapped rope start. Not recoil. :twisted:
Ran too fast. Governor was adjusted wrong. 80 VDC output. :shock:
Got everything readjusted and slowed down. Voltage settled down to a nice steady 32 VDC. Right where it should be. :D
Still not sure exactly what the its original purpose was. Other than power something that operated on 28 VDC back in the 40's.
Maybe a radio or GPU for an aircraft ???
I still don't own it.
I contacted the owner & he don't know what he wants to do with it either, but he did mention selling it. Maybe.
Have no idea what it is worth.
Details on the unit are listed back in the post.
Options are up in the air.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Joe Gopan
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:47 am

"Little Joe" is also another word used to define "APU".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: Do I have an APU ?

Post by Wolfman » Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:53 am

Never heard that one before.
:D A Joe that knows about a Little Joe. :D
You and I beat this around before, so, you have any further ideas what Little Joe was used for ???
Dumb question.
What ever the Army wanted !
I was Government property once. 8)
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB


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