Tool ID..battery charger ?

crsutton81 · Jun 4, 2022

This is another item that was in Grandads shop that I never saw him use and no one else in the family has any details on it. Isn't this an older battery charger ? We're not sure as he was an electrical engineer by trade, and repaired TV's and radios on the side. Any knowledge about it is appreciated.

Steve@Advance · Jun 4, 2022

Looks like a variable DC voltage supply.

For bench use, testing, etc.

guido · Jun 4, 2022

Looks like a battery charger. We had one at work rated at 36 volts, I can't recall the amps. Probably 5 or 6.

You can charge as many batteries as you have in series, adding up to 40 volts or less. Will charge them at 6 amps.

Look inside, probably has tubes as rectifiers

Guido.

wore out · Jun 4, 2022

(quoted from post at 18:44:04 06/04/22) Looks like a battery charger. We had one at work rated at 36 volts, I can't recall the amps. Probably 5 or 6.

You can charge as many batteries as you have in series, adding up to 40 volts or less. Will charge them at 6 amps.

Look inside, probably has tubes as rectifiers

Guido.

"probably has tubes as rectifiers"

Yes, and likely would be ''Tungar" mercury vapor rectifier tubes.

John T · Jun 5, 2022

Based on the label (up to 40 VDC) plus the knob on front my best guess agrees with Steve below. Its a DC power supply and you change DC output voltage by turning the rheostat knob on front ??? I dont think its any 36 volt battery charger like some 36 volt electric golf carts use... If you plugged it up and placed a DC volt meter on the output and turned the knob see what it does ??????????

John T

John T · Jun 5, 2022

PS I Just found this its a Baldor Electric Handy Battery Charger and the turn knob adjusts the current ?? Perhaps the one in question turning the knob adjusts the voltage as I guessed orrrrrrrr instead the current like the one in the picture ???????????

Regardless its just as its labeled, a DC Power Supply (40 volts fixed or max??), and you can adjust the voltage or current ????

John T

guido · Jun 5, 2022

Yep! One for each leg. Changed brightness with output current,

Guido.

John T · Jun 5, 2022

Take a look at some of those rectifier tubes WOW

https://archive.org/details/BaldorHandyBatteryChargers/page/n1/mode/2up

John T
Baldor Handy Rectifier Tubes

guido · Jun 5, 2022

John T,

Neat. Should have kept them, when they junked the battery charger at work.

I have the amp meter out of it though. I used it on an amp testers I made for battery work. I will post a picture for you,

Guido.

crsutton81 · Jun 5, 2022

Thanks everyone for all of the responses. Sometime soon when I get a chance I will plug it up and put a tester on the output terminals and see what it does. There is still several floor to ceiling stacks of tubes and such in the electric repair side of the the shop. If something isn't working maybe there is enough parts to get it going again.

guido · Jun 5, 2022

crsutton81,

Before you plug it in, check inside. The A/C cord is my concern. Heat generated in the charging box may have coocked the cord.

A quick look and see of all the components is what I recommend.

Guido.

710ltd2002 · Jun 5, 2022

Many styles of vintage vacuum tubes are HIGHLY desirable and sell for good money. Search your tubes online for resale potential before cleaning up those stacks!! Dave

crsutton81 · Jun 6, 2022

That is advice well taken Guido. I also have a fist full of NOS power cords for whatever if needed for it.

Tool ID..battery charger ?

crsutton81

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guido

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wore out

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John T

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guido

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