Aboard ship, you will perform many jobs using small, portable electrical tools. Because portable electrical tools are commonly used under a variety of conditions, they are subject to damage and abuse.

The Navy has a good electrical tool safety program. This program is carried out by qualified EMs. However, EMs can only make safety checks on tools that are brought to their attention. Electrical handtools should be inspected before each use to make sure the power cord is not nicked or cut, and the plug is connected properly. Electrical handtools should be turned in to the electricians as prescribed by the electrical safety program.

BATTLE LANTERNS

Relay-operated hand lanterns (fig 12-11 view A), usually called battle lanterns, are powered by dry-cell batteries. Hand lanterns are provided to give emergency light when the ship's service and emergency/alternate lighting systems fail. These lanterns are placed in spaces where continual illumination is necessary, such as machinery spaces, control rooms, essential watch stations, battle dressing stations, and escape hatches. All auxiliary machinery with gauge boards should be provided with a battle lantern to illuminate the gauge board in the event of a casualty. The battle lantern should not be removed from its mounting bracket except in an emergency. Do not use it as a flashlight in nonemergency situations.

The relay control boxes for battle lanterns are connected to the emergency lighting supply circuit (or to the ship's service lighting circuit) in which the lantern is installed. If power in the circuit fails, the relay opens and the batteries energize the lantern.

Relay-operated battle lanterns are capable of operating for a minimum of 10 hours before the light output ceases to be useful.

Similar hand lanterns (fig 12-11 view B), which are not connected to relays, are installed throughout the ship to provide light in stations

Figure 12-1l.Special lights.

that are occasionally manned. These lanterns are manually operated. If used in an emergency, the manually operated hand lanterns should ALWAYS BE RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION.

SEALED-BEAM LIGHTS

Sealed-beam lights are a type of flood lantern (fig 12-11 view C). These lanterns are used to give high-intensity illumination in damage control or other emergency repair work. These units consist of a sealed-beam light similar to that used for automobiles. The sealed-beam light, powered by four small wet-cell storage batteries, is mounted in the battery case and fitted with a handle for convenient carrying. A sealed-beam lamp will operate for 3 hours before the batteries require recharging. When the batteries are at full charge, the beam has an intensity similar to that of the headlight on an automobile. At the end of 3 hours, the light output will gradually drop to about one-half its original brilliance. These sealedbeam lights are normally stored in the damage control repair lockers.