Harbor Fright Old Style 10-amp Charger + This Puppy

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
I think I see the pot in the NW corner of the pic, maybe install a knob on it, for ease of operation?

By using a voltage divider resistor network a single turn 1K linear potentiometer the "buck" could offer infinite expanded range adjustment. I like the 12 position (throw) rotary switch and precision resistors method best. Say .10 volt increments? The decimal point shows up pretty weak. POINT ONE ZERO volt increments.

I just picked up a variant of a Harbor Fright 2-10 amp charger out of the junk pile today. A SOLAR brand charger. Without the silly 50 amp boost. She's a little rough around the edges but a good platform to turn it into Daughter In Law of Frankenstein. BTW I got that buck booster on eBay for $2.31 including shipping. Should be here today via burro express. This one gets coupled to the variac when switched to manual mode. I am rooting around for an adjustable constant current device. Going to be a bit crowded inside but a nice ball bearing muffin fan will take care of that. Even have room to jam in a small electrolytic cap. The shunt gets mounted inside the lid. Digital LED volt and ammeters. Cute project.

How many volts are you planning on sticking into the device from the charger as your power source at 10 amps? 16 volts? 18 volts? Help the mentally EE challenged here out.

I think what you're building there is a good old fashioned Wile E Coyote Acme brand battery charger.

NinerBikes wrote:
I think I see the pot in the NW corner of the pic, maybe install a knob on it, for ease of operation?

By using a voltage divider resistor network a single turn 1K linear potentiometer the "buck" could offer infinite expanded range adjustment. I like the 12 position (throw) rotary switch and precision resistors method best. Say .10 volt increments? The decimal point shows up pretty weak. POINT ONE ZERO volt increments.

I just picked up a variant of a Harbor Fright 2-10 amp charger out of the junk pile today. A SOLAR brand charger. Without the silly 50 amp boost. She's a little rough around the edges but a good platform to turn it into Daughter In Law of Frankenstein. BTW I got that buck booster on eBay for $2.31 including shipping. Should be here today via burro express. This one gets coupled to the variac when switched to manual mode. I am rooting around for an adjustable constant current device. Going to be a bit crowded inside but a nice ball bearing muffin fan will take care of that. Even have room to jam in a small electrolytic cap. The shunt gets mounted inside the lid. Digital LED volt and ammeters. Cute project.

I think I see the pot in the NW corner of the pic, maybe install a knob on it, for ease of operation?

X2

PaulJ2 wrote:
I see the multi-turn pot in the photo, but I admit my career was electronics. Neat,small,compact.

I see the multi-turn pot in the photo, but I admit my career was electronics. Neat,small,compact.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:





Tweak the pot and presto, Papa Fletcher's Do It Yourself "Last 20% Of Charge Needed" GIZMO. Voltage regulated. Gotta fit a spring operated 6-hour timer in here somehow...

Tweak and pot should not be used in the same sentence... some might find it offensive. I've seen a lot of pot in my lifetime, that ain't pot. Can't even figure out where the potentiometer even is in that photo.

You need a more detailed name and part number B.O.M. for Papa Fletcher's DIY for the laymen, non EE folks among us. Baby steps, Mex, Baby steps...

How many volts does it put out with the potentiometer?