What to do with this dumpster find? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: jerryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2024, 11:25:04 pm
content: I happened upon this 130V Float charger that was heading for the dumpster. Its a newARE-M13050in a 30" cabinet. Although I can't see any immediate use for this in my electronics repair hobby sphere it seemed criminal to let it get tossed in the dumpster so I brought all 239 lbs of it home to show my wife what a cool thing I dug out of the trash.Any interesting projects to make out of this thing. The transformer is impressive as are the diodes, resistors, and capacitors. There is certainly some monetary value if nothing else.Jerry

author: rich t
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 12:01:15 am
content: Wow, 260 joules in each capacitor! (Or maybe the others are even bigger?)0.5 [13000 uF] [200 V]^2 ? # capacitor energy> 0.5 13000 micro~farad (200 volt)^2 ? joule= 260

author: jerryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 12:14:18 am
content: That's the small capacitor on the right. The four larger caps on the right are 29000 uF FWIW.Jerry

author: calzap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 12:36:56 am
content: If it's the 48 VDC model, could it be used to charge an EV? How did you lift 100+ kg from a dumpster?Mike

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 12:57:31 am
content: what does it say on the red card

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 01:53:50 am
content: Quote from: jerryk on July 18, 2024, 11:25:04 pmLooking at the spec sheet that you linked to, it looks like that model weighs600pounds! (bottom of the list, page 3). Oops. That's shipping wight.Now you know why the term "boat anchor" is used to describe old electronics.I can't resist bringing home things like that either. And my house shows it!

author: jzx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 12:58:15 pm
content: Quote from: jerryk on July 18, 2024, 11:25:04 pmWhat has said your wife?

author: simonyovink
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 19, 2024, 01:16:50 pm
content: What a find! I love it.That cabinet would serve well for practically anything electrical. Gut it, put a few DIN rails in it, and you can have anything from a automation control cabinet to a load center for your workbench.If you're comfortable with circuit board work, the green pluggable terminal blocks and yellow relays are some of my favorite spare parts.With the capacitors, I imagine they could be used to make a super stable DC power supply - only thing is the inrush current would be crazy!I notice what looks like a large switching transistor on the right side of the cabinet - perhaps that is worth salvaging too?

author: jerryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 07:01:38 pm
content: So this is last call for any cool and practical ideas of repurposing this monster. Otherwise it looks like I'm going to gut it for parts and then disassemble the giant transformer and inductor and sell the copper for scrap prices. I will keep a bit of the windings since they are rectangular and could make small busbars for other project.The only thing I could come up with as far as ideas was making a large spot welder out of it but looking through the how to videos on the internet I got the feeling that battery charger transformers aren't ideal for this type of application.As always, I appreciate the input thus far and as it turns out it does weight closer to 500 lbs. That alone makes it a bit inconvenient to put it up on the shelf where I store all the other strange contraptions that I have adopted over the years.Jerry

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 10:28:09 pm
content: You don't put things like this on a shelf, they ARE the shelf!

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 10:58:20 pm
content: Quote from: calzap on July 19, 2024, 12:36:56 amThat label says 132 volts DC, which seems crazy high for most battery systems. Telco central office systems are all 48 VDC.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 11:14:19 pm
content: Unless you know of someone with 3 phase power this 130 volt 50 amp battery charger probably has no use to you as it is. It is ferroresonant which is durable but not terribly efficient. It is meant to run for years keeping a bank of batteries at a float voltage while providing power to battery powered equipment; these probably can be paralleled if needed. It would do a great job of keeping a string of 10 automotive type 12V batteries alive when not being used; something like a heavy equipment contractor with lots of big lead acid start batteries that they want to keep charged during the winter (and need a little extra heat from the charger).The 3 phase input power limits its usefulness for those of us who like to tinker. The capacitors would probably make good capacitive discharge spot welding components. The transformer is pretty much useless for other purposes.The cabinet may make a nice drill press stand.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 11:33:08 pm
content: Quotewhat makes you think its 3 phase ?

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 11:47:16 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 27, 2024, 11:33:08 pmCertainly not the equipment placard that say “1 PH”Jerry’s - just curious. Are you by chance in suburban Philadelphia? There’s a C&D office near my old employer in Blue Bell, PA.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 01:04:17 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 27, 2024, 11:33:08 pmI made a bad assumption based on the amount of power involved :'(

author: jerryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 02:10:24 am
content: Part of the problem is I'm in Alaska so even if someone responded to my Ebay listing the location and freight involved is a bit stifling. Reading up on this device and per the manual's product description it's a single-phase, controlled ferroresonant float charger intended for utility, communications, and other applications where stable, clean reliable DC power is needed.It came from our local electric utility that ordered the wrong thing. Rather than return it they gave it to a local battery supply distributor to play with. I do small time (volunteer) repair projects for that company and they offered it to me. What electronic hobbyist in their right mind doesn't want those giant capacitors or the massive resistors. I'll drag my feet a little more and see if anyone comes up with a case for sparing the transformer and inductor from the scrap yard. It's a thing of beauty inside and don't have the heart to kill it quite yet.Jerry

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 02:21:08 am
content: chuck a 10kw pot on the output and use it as a varible bench psu that doubles up as a workshop heater

author: jerryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 02:48:25 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 28, 2024, 02:21:08 amNow that's funny!!Jerry

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 08:23:18 am
content: Quote from: Stray Electron on July 19, 2024, 01:53:50 amIt has a list to port where the electronic finds are stored?

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 11:25:48 pm
content: Quote from: 5U4GB on November 28, 2024, 08:23:18 amNot really, I just have to find a matching item and place it on the other side of the house to counter balance the first find. It's like counter-flooding a ship, it works. To a point!

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 10:27:32 pm
content: Watch a few Styropyro videos. You get some ideas!