What is the life-support duration of a Battledress last?

[Golan2072]

A question raised in this thread: how long do the life-support supplies of a battledress last?

CT doesn't seem to give any concrete answer, and niether do Striker or T4. TNE says that a battledress could operate for 10 hours before needing to recharge its batteries (or 100 hours in TL14+), but doesn't say anything specific about life support (though you could assume that it is operated by the same batteries as the suit).

 

[Andrew Boulton]

The PLSS packs in WBH/MTIE last 4-48hrs, depending on model.

 

[far-trader]

CT treats BD just like VaccSuits so for life support you have 6 hours onboard. Which is much more reasonable than the 24+ hours in later editions if for no other reason than that being stuck in a suit for longer than 6 hours is going to be hell.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

You'll still be alive, though.

 

[far-trader]

I suppose...

One thing that the extended life support will buy you, though it's never been covered in any set of rules (except house), is that the listed durations are likely to be for normal breathing.

Combat or work is going to reduce the duration considerably so having 6 hours may mean only 4 hours of slogging and fighting. Not counting losses due to suit pentrations and leakage.

I've always seen the extra duration life support systems as more safety/working margins than actual anticipated time in suit.

 

[flykiller]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebreather

if a device exists that can split CO2 and CO back into C and O2 and that is mountable on a vacc suit, there would be no limit to airtime.

 

[far-trader]

You're still limited to the amount and efficiency of the CO2 scrubber. So it's not unlimited unless you presume an infinite backpack unit And it's not without it's own limitations and problems. I still say the issue isn't the actual O2 capacity though as much as the other issues of being confined in a small sealed environment.

 

[Anthony]

While a fusion-powered battlesuit could have unlimited endurance, anything else is of somewhat limited duration. A human uses about 1 kg of oxygen per 4,000 calories burnt, and produces a similar quantity of CO2 (some of the oxygen forms water, not CO2), though a battlesuit probably doesn't have a LOX tank, meaning the actual life support systems would be several times that. In any case, however, 24 hours endurance isn't impossible, it's just optimistic.

 

[Nick Nova]

There is a wonderful article about Battledress in The MegaTraveller Journal #1 called "Dressed to Kill", by Tom Peters. In it he states:
"The suits' powerpacks and life support systems provide a sealed, self-sufficient environment for a minimum of 12 hours (or more if an extended system is added)".
Unfortunately it does not tell how much more time an extended life support pack allows.
Battery charges for the suits' range from 4 to 20 days depending on the model and Tech Level.

 

[flykiller]

You're still limited to the amount and efficiency of the CO2 scrubber.

busting the CO and CO2 back to O2 and C is the scrubber.

but yeah, air wouldn't be the limit. high tech - ventillation recirc, drugs, training, special materials - could ameliorate any discomfort of being in the suit for long periods, so likely the limit would be human waste handling.

or perhaps suit discomfort could be a motivator. "there's no way out of that suit soldier except through the enemy." ugly.

 

[atpollard]

Vehicle rules tend to place accommodation restrictions at 8 hours and 24 hours. Less than 8 hours needs a seat, more than 8 hours needs 'waste management' and more than 24 hours needs a bunk/stateroom. That could limit the design duration of a suit to 8 hours or less based on human comfort.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Originally posted by Nick Nova:
Unfortunately it does not tell how much more time an extended life support pack allows.

That'll be the PLSS packs.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Vac suits, CA, & BD include waste management systems.

 

[flykiller]

Vac suits, CA, & BD include waste management systems.

what, a diaper?

perhaps that's a game detail that doesn't need elaboration.

 

[atpollard]

Originally posted by flykiller:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Vac suits, CA, & BD include waste management systems.

what, a diaper?

perhaps that's a game detail that doesn't need elaboration. </font>[/QUOTE]Especially after the 100 hours of operation mentioned in the opening post.