What is it?

[vtmaps]

Ok it does test something about the battery but what?      Hint the bar coming out the side is a probe and the plastic button on the end is an insulator...........a pointed probe and a cylinder?

Thanks for the hint, but I didn't need it.  I've seen descriptions of these... for some reason I think maybe you wrote about them somewhere, sometime ago, in describing how to test individual cells in a flooded lead acid battery.

--vtMaps

[tecnodave]

Vt gets the cigar!


They are used to test the individual cell voltage! The pointed end is placed on the positive end and the side probe is inserted into the cell, the insulator button prevents shorting the plates so you are reading the voltage of the acid. The second cell is tested using both side probes and so on.
There will be a voltage offset on the first cell as follows:

Positive to first cell.               1.05 volt   !
First cell to second cell.          2.1   volt
Second cell to third cell          2.1   volt
Third cell to negative term.     1.05 volt
           Battery total.              6.3  volt

These were made by Sun Electric to use with an automovitive system. They plug into the VAT-28 generator/alternator/battery tester

I use them with a Snap-On VAT-40 analyzer.......8" high sensivity voltmeter and ammeter to evaluate batteries. These will show any variation in cell volts and used with a hydrometer provide a clear picture of battery capacity and probable life span

I bought a used set of Rolls Surette S-530 L-16 for $20. Headed to the scrap yard, they are now at full 400 ah capacity! All cells are at 1.265.  Not a bad use for a tool thought obsolete!  Did it with a kid in total manual mode! Doing sets every 30 minutes and walking the charge cycle at every step
Even doing the eq in bulk MPPT mode and setting the exact voltage and amperage I wanted at that moment..........I know , that is not how the kid was meant to be used but as a beta tester I will do stuff not in the books

Note, the Surette's were scrapped due to blown FET's in the C-40 controller. I bought the whole system as scrap.........Ah the power of diagnosis!

td

[onanparts]

Here is the next victim.....

[mike90045]

Bunch of IC's, lots of discrete parts, half dozen tuned slug coils in 2 groups, could be AM/FM tuner  No power parts showing, so I'm sticking with tuner, no amp.

[boB]

Bunch of IC's, lots of discrete parts, half dozen tuned slug coils in 2 groups, could be AM/FM tuner  No power parts showing, so I'm sticking with tuner, no amp.

I was thinking the exact same thing but knowing TJ, it's gotta be something different BUT still using a radio.
There is definitely a micro-controller in there though.  Late 1980s maybe ?

boB

[RossW]

And a (5-digit?), 7-segment display, if that helps anyone?

[dgd]

That 8048 cpu brings back some coding memories from about 1980.
Is it a cpu control board from an old analogue synthesizer (Korg or whatever) ?

dgd

[onanparts]

Bunch of IC's, lots of discrete parts, half dozen tuned slug coils in 2 groups, could be AM/FM tuner  No power parts showing, so I'm sticking with tuner, no amp.

I was thinking the exact same thing but knowing TJ, it's gotta be something different BUT still using a radio.
There is definitely a micro-controller in there though.  Late 1980s maybe ?

boB

I can truthfully say it's not an AM/FM tuner, although it could be under certain circumstances. Right book, right chapter....wrong page. 5 digit display is correct. The original IBM PC keyboard used an 8048 microcontroller, as did some Korg and Roland synthesizers. But not a KB or Synth. boB and Mike are close enough to the fire to get their fingers very warm.....Hmmmm.....

[tecnodave]

A SIG or Air quality alert box for decoding alerts broadcast on AM/FM broadcast

I remember large industries having to have such decoding radios in the greater L.A. Basin about that time.  Air quality board could issue SIG alerts requiring certain industries to shut down. Also used for very heavy power users at peak power times to command a shutdown.

td

[ClassicCrazy]

I thought this might be a good  What is it ?

[mike90045]

RF (or anti-RF) air vent port in a building. Can't tell what the flat gizmos are in a row down the center.   Usually the RFI shielded vents have small hex mesh in them, good to the GHZ range

[Halfcrazy]

It looks like it has been cut. So my money is on a high current bus bar passing through the wall to a control center?

[ClassicCrazy]

It looks like it has been cut. So my money is on a high current bus bar passing through the wall to a control center?

Yes Ryan has it  - was going from transformer to breakers.

Anyone want to take a guess at  the volt and amp ratings for it ?  Each copper conductor is about 1/4" thick by 2 inches .

Two different ratings for if it is mounted horizontally  like in the photo - or if it was mounted vertically instead.
Hint - the difference in those ratings is 250amps .

[Halfcrazy]

Well using the old standard 1by1 is 1,000 amps I would say in the picture as shown they where rated for some where around 5-700 amps as shown

[ClassicCrazy]

Well using the old standard 1by1 is 1,000 amps I would say in the picture as shown they where rated for some where around 5-700 amps as shown

It is three phase