RE: [SPAM] Re: (ET) Charger repair.

["Markus Lorch" <mlorch vt edu>]

Wow Steve,

I learned something new today. Thanks for that link. 
Actually I was hoping to continue using my elec-trak charger as
a bulk charger when back in Germany with a 1000VA step-down 
transformer. However we have a 50Hz AC frequency there
and from the description of the ferroresonant transformer it
looks like this may be a problem as it is probably tuned to 
the 60Hz used in north america. 

Do you have any thoughts on how complicated it may be to 
adapt the charger, I had hoped that in the long run I could
adapt/rewind the primary winding to the 230V used in Europe
but I would probably also have to do something with the 
compensation winding which may make the whole thing too
much of an effort. I guess I'll then be better of with 
using a more modern switching charger or get me a standard
transformer. Any suggestions?

Markus

> -----Original Message-----
> From: elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu 
> [mailto:elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of SteveS
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 11:24 AM
> To: et
> Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: (ET) Charger repair.
> 
> 
> The ET charger uses a ferroresonant transformer (see 
> http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_9/6.html) , which is an 
> expensive and rather sophisticted design. In short, it has 
> the virtue of 
> putting out a constant voltage (good for charging) with 
> widely varying 
> input voltages (imagine the voltage range found throughout 
> the country, 
> in sheds and barns, with varying exetension cords).
> 
> I believe most cheap utility chargers (typical car battery 
> chargers) are 
> not ferroresonant and, hence, not as well regulated. I'm not 
> sure where 
> the Lester falls. If it is ferrresonant , the capacitor value is 
> critical and it must withstand rather high voltage. A ferroresonant 
> design will have the cap wired to the transformer and nothing 
> else. It 
> will also be an AC cap. The output will come off different 
> windings. A 
> more typical charger will have a simple rectifier output , 
> with maybe a 
> DC smoothing cap. A better one would actuallyl have some regulation 
> and/or charge control circuitry - I imagine the Lester may be 
> like that, 
> but others on this list probably know the answer to that.
> 
> - SteveS
> E20
> 
> 
> Chapin, Tim wrote:
> 
> >I think I confused people...  this is a Lester golf cart 
> charger that I
> >am getting together for an old golf cart.  Being a non 
> electrical guy I
> >just assumed that a golf cart charger of the same vintage as the et
> >charger would use the same caps.....  I am getting the idea that they
> >can be very different.  I will try to get some numbers off the Lester
> >charger cap tonight.  The thing is very rusty and don't 
> think I can find
> >any.
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> 
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