Re: (ET) Looking for a PP-1659A Military Battery Charger

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>]

On 21 Jan 2005 at 8:48, Klein Robert W NPRI wrote:

> Does anyone know where I can find PP-1659A Battery Charger?

This is what most of us call a "Fair Radio charger," because the surplus 
outfit Fair Radio sold a bunch of them for $50 each some years back.  They 
were pretty popular with EV hobbyists, who tend to be a frugal bunch. <g>

For those who aren't familiar with them, the Fair Radio chargers are a 
military surplus battery charger.  Well, sort of: they're actually just a 
multivoltage power supply, comprising a tapped transformer, a couple of 
switches to change the taps, a rectifier, and a couple of panel meters.  
They 
have absolutely no voltage regulation or charge control, so as chargers 
they 
are pretty crude.  Also, several users (including me) have had rectifier 
failures.  This may be partly because of their age.  I suspect that it's 
also  
because they don't have very good case ventilation, nor do they have any 
kind 
of current limit device save the resistance of their wiring. 

But because their (approximate) output voltage can be set in one-volt 
increments, they're pretty useful as quick-and-dirty backup and shop 
chargers. 
 I own two; one lives in the garage, the other in the basement.  I use 
both of 
them fairly frequently.

Fair Radio sold out of them a few years ago, and AFAIK has not gotten any 
more 
in.  But the last time I was there, they had a bunch of bits from 
defective 
ones - lots of cases with transformers and rectifiers, for example, but 
they 
seemed to have dismantled most of the front panels so they could sell the 
meters and switches.  If you're able to visit, I suppose there's a chance 
they 
might be able to scrounge up enough parts for you to build one.  Or, you 
might 
be able to get one of the transformers and a set of switches, then "roll 
your 
own."  Try giving Fair Radio a call or email.  Warning: there is a LOT of 
fussy wiring inside one of those chargers!

http://www.fairradio.com/

Also, one of the EV list members, Bob Rice, offered a FR charger for sale 
a 
month or two ago.  I suspect someone's bought it already, but it can't 
hurt to 
drop him a line: bobrice snet net

Failing in that, you might post a note on the EV list asking if anyone 
wants 
to sell a Fair Radio charger.  If you're not a list member, instructions 
for 
subscribing are at

http://www.evdl.org/help/

Finally, if all fails, you can homebrew an approximate equivalent of the 
FR 
charger with a Variac, bridge rectifier, and voltmeter.  It won't be 
isolated 
from the power mains, but you could add a surplus isolation transformer if 
you 
don't mind the additional weight and cost.

Good luck in your search!


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
1991 Solectria Force 144vac
1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
1974 Avco New Idea 36vdc
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