Power Station pics

Leon Sumter · February 16, 2012, 06:36:27 PM

Looking at the power station 1 and 2 pics circa 1950's it seems as if the building was reduced in size in the 60's or seventies. The section to the right of the big door seems to have been removed.

Alfred Boehme · February 16, 2012, 07:52:10 PM

These two photo's are posted under Oranjemund 1930 I just added them to this topic being relevant

Alfred Boehme · February 16, 2012, 07:57:40 PM

Quote from: Leon Sumter on February 16, 2012, 06:36:27 PM
Looking at the power station 1 and 2 pics circa 1950's it seems as if the building was reduced in size in the 60's or seventies. The section to the right of the big door seems to have been removed.

The section right of the big door was removed due to a fire arround 1978 I think, I recall mention of a Transformer or two that blew up, I will go get a photo the Transformer bases are still there and the top section was made into a open veranda don't know the reason behind this.

Alfred

john wilson · February 16, 2012, 08:59:50 PM

There was a fire in the transformer bay a few years after I left,Roy Fields told me in a letter at that time it was on one of the units we had changed the feeders from the generator to the step up transformer. The problem at that time was the replacement cable was solid aluminium,we questioned that decision at that time as the connections on the transformer were copper,and that can cause a problem long term with a chemical reaction between the metals. There was a paste we put on the connection this was supposed to counter act that process. Im not saying that caused the fire as I wasnt there but it sure was more than a coinsidence especially on that unit.

Leon Sumter · February 17, 2012, 01:08:59 PM

looking at these photos again reminds me once again how big the OMD power station actually was.

Leon Sumter · February 17, 2012, 01:46:39 PM

This picture is a nice shot of the power station. Not sure of the picture's date.

Michael Alexander · February 17, 2012, 01:58:16 PM

Let's try date your pic Leon..... There is a helipad already on St George's square.... There are no ATM's at the bank yet, but the new section has been added on....

Tommy Visser of the Penny Farthing build a building on the empty lot, opposite the Single Quarters..... it ain't on the pic yet....

So let's deduce the pic must be before 1989....? Anyone else pick up on anything?

Diana Rudd (Boehme) · February 17, 2012, 04:15:29 PM

I don't recall the helipad......so after 1981.

SandyB · February 17, 2012, 08:32:57 PM

Aluminium cables .. the worst .. our factory was outfitted with them .. we had a huge blowout due to hot connections and each year we now have a infrared survey and its continous maintenance .. cheap at outset but expensive in the long run....

Nada Ulbrich (Rall)(RIP) · February 17, 2012, 08:38:06 PM

Must have been '78/'79. There are still trees in the swimming pool enclosure. Those trees were removed after the great windstorm in middle '79.

Mike Stenson (RIP) · February 18, 2012, 05:54:20 AM

Quote from: SandyB on February 17, 2012, 08:32:57 PM
Aluminium cables .. the worst .. our factory was outfitted with them .. we had a huge blowout due to hot connections and each year we now have a infrared survey and its continous maintenance .. cheap at outset but expensive in the long run....

Did they use these

In the past they used tin coated lugs and ferrules but these days they can fuse copper and aluminum together, this stops corrosion and hot connections.

SandyB · February 18, 2012, 02:54:14 PM

The contractor used ordinary lugs with a compression crimper .. tuns out bad choice ..