Handy, also for oxygen production. Did you ever have to light the candle?

For anyone else wondering what “light the candle” means in this context:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_generator

If you want too see one in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Ud6mHdhlQ around 10:19 onwards shows the candle being put into action.

I knew exactly what video you were going to link :) I love when the internet feels small for a moment.

Every 2 hours in 2 parts of the ship? That seems like a lot of labor.

They alternate between the two sections, so they do one stack every 2 hours and you can see how much labour, 2 man less than 5 mins. Remember, this isn't how they run it all the time and it is the backup system. With that in mind, most backup plans for anything if not a like for like, are always more intensive. Compare writing a letter by hand too sending an email in effort and this, for me, this looks way easier.

Worth noting that even in the vid, you have crew members of senior rank watching on as they have never seen it done before, which indicates how uncommon it's usage is.

Oxygen generators use electricity (electrolysis), not steam.

Thankfully, we never had to use oxygen candles. Candles are effective only in a small closed space. That would have been a serious emergency.

Ah yes, was referring to the excess drinking water aspect knowing electrolysis upon sea water will produce chlorine due to the salt, which really would be an emergency in itself.

Glad to hear you didn't have a situation to use one and does seem a very rare situation, but neat that there is a solid backup.