Are you jammin'?

Button pushing

The flight control closet is a tight area, but not doing the integrated lower control actuator (ILCA) jam simulation test prior to the first flight of each day puts your bird at risk. Get in there and get at it!

Test the red jam sensor indicator buttons and make sure they pop out. Do it like it says in task 7-104.1 of TM 55-1520-240-23-6.

In operation, the red jam sensor indicator buttons pop automatically when there's a problem with the ICLA. The jam simulator buttons are hard to get at.

The tool to use to press down on the plunger should not be a screwdriver, hard metal or sharp tool. They can cause the plunger and seals of the jam simulation buttons to mushroom out of their close tolerance, making them stick. If the ILCA jam simulation buttons get damaged and can't be reset, AVIM has to replace the entire actuator assembly.

So don't use unauthorized tools. Instead, press the buttons--all eight of them--with a tool made of wood or a soft metal--like aluminum or brass--that has a flattened surface on one end. If the red buttons pop out, then you're good to go and can reset 'em and forget 'era until the next flight.

Mop Up Problems

During your daily inspections of the flight control closet, always wipe off hydraulic fluid from all the components. It's OK for the ILCA manifold to leak some per task 7-7 of TM 55-1520-240-23-6. But if the manifold is not wiped off, hydraulic fluid can build up and drip down on the DASH actuator. Fluid can get into the DASH internal motors and burn them out.

Check the cannon plugs of the DASH and the control position transducers in the closet for fluid runoff. Wipe up excess hydraulic fluid to avoid uncontrolled lockups and advanced flight control system faults.

To ensure uneventful flights, and erratic pitch attitude, check out TB 1-1520-240-20-107 for the details.

The good reviews are pouring in: rechargeable batteries work and work well! If your unit has yet to make the switch to rechargeables, now is the time to do so.

HERE ARE THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY NSNs, THE NSNs FOR THE CHARGERS NEEDED TO RECHARGE THEM ...

... THE NSNs FOR THE ADAPTERS YOU NEED ON THE CHARGERS ..

... AND SOME NSNs FOR OTHER STUFF YOU MAY NEED TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE BATTERIES.

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You can also get a lithium rechargeable battery, NSN 6140-01-487-1153, for use in the AN/PRC-148, MBITR, hand-held squad radio.

Chargers

OF COURSE, RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES NEED A WAY TO GET RECHARGED.

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TO DO THAT JOB ORDER THESE CHARGERS ...

PP-8498/U is the latest and greatest charger. It will hold eight batteries, charging two at a time before moving on to the next two. It will recharge every kind of rechargeable battery listed here.

The PP-8498/U, PP-8481A/U and the PP-8481B/U are the only approved chargers that can charge the BB-2590/U. The PP-8444A/U will not do the job, but can still charge most battery types.

The Charger-on-the-Move, PP-8481A/U, has been upgraded to charge more BB-2590s faster and provide more expandability. The PP-8481B/U comes fully loaded with AC/DC cables and two universal adapters to hold and charge BB-2590, BB-390, BB-516, BB-388, BB-2800, BB-2847 and MBITR batteries.

Accessories

To use a charger powered by a vehicle's 24-volt NATO slave receptacle, order DC cable, NSN 5940-01-501-6714. To use this cable to power two PP-8444 chargers, order an add-on cable, NSN 5995-01-491-8634. Or to use the cable to power two PP-8498 chargers, order an add-on cable, NSN 5995-01-505-7883.

For the BB-390 battery, you will also need the self-discharge cap, NSN 6130-01-490-4310.

If you're using the new Charger-on-the-Move, you can order a bulk adapter with NSN 5940-01-494-7116 that will hold four BB-2590s.

CREW CHIEFS, THE ILCA INSPECTION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO FIRST FLIGHT, BUT IT'S OFTEN FORGOTTEN.

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Adapters

TO MAKE THE BATTERY CHARGERS DO THEIR CHARGING JOB, YOU'LL NEED ADAPTERS THAT INTERFACE BETWEEN THE CHARGER AND THE BATTERY IT'S CHARGING.

HERE ARE THE ADAPTERS AND THE BATTERIES THAT USE THEM ...

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IF YOU NEED MORE INFO ON RECHARGEABLES, THEIR CHARGES AND THEIR ADAPTERS, CONTACT THE ARMY'S RECHARGEABLE BATTERY GURU, DON BROCKEL AT DSN 992-4948 OR [phone].

OR EMAIL HIM AT [e-mail]

AND STAY CURRENT ON ALL THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY STUFF BY VISITING THIS WEBSITE OFTEN: www.monmouth.army.mil/cecom/lrc/lrchq/power/rechargeable.htm

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Batteries

Rechargeable     NSN      End Item                 Non-chargeable
Battery        6140-01-   Example                    Equivalent

BB-2590/U      490-4316   SINCGARS, M22               BA-5590
BB-390B/U      490-4317   SINCGARS, M22, Javelin      BA-5590
BB-388A/U      490-4313   AN/PRC-126                  BA-5588
BB-516A/U      419-8191   MELIOS, AN/PVS-6            None
BB-503A/U      419-8193   Dragon Thermal Sight        None
BB-2847A/U     493-8092   TWS, AN/PAS-13              BA-5347
BB-557/U       071-5070   REMBASS                     BA-5557
BB-2600A/U     490-4311   HTU                         BA-5600
BB-2800/U      490-5372   PLGR, CAM                   BA-5800

Charger      Description           NSN 6130-01-

PP-8498/U    Portable charger        495-2839
PP-8481B/U   Charger-on-the-Move     527-2726

Adapter       NSN      Battery
            5940-01-

J-6358B/P   501-3312   BB-390B/U, BB-2590/U
J-6357A/P   493-6388   BB-388A/U
1-6356/P    427-9183   BB-516A/U
J-6355/P    427-9247   BB-503A/U
J-6354/P    427-9278   BB-2847A/U
J-6523A/P   492-7238   BB-557/U
1-6521/P    467-8813   BB-2600A/U
J-6587/P    493-6750   BB-2800/U
J-6588/P    493-6751   MBITR (only 8498)
J-6589/P    493-7622   AA (only 8498)

The PP-8498/U charger comes with four 1-63588/P adapters.