Another use for a 36v 3phase battery charger

I have an Exide 36 volt battery charger I would like to repurpose into something useful. This was used for a 24v defunct forklift. I don't want to scrap it if there could be some other use for it. No interest from anyone on Ebay or Craigslist (have it listed for $200). I have plenty of welders so no desire for that conversion if even possible. Thank you for any ideas or thoughts.

Good question! I'm going to send this out to some of our electrical hobbyists to see if we can get you some good answers.

What's the output current rating Wiebster?

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Originally Posted by Wiebster

I have an Exide 36 volt battery charger I would like to repurpose into something useful. This was used for a 24v defunct forklift. I don't want to scrap it if there could be some other use for it. No interest from anyone on Ebay or Craigslist (have it listed for $200). I have plenty of welders so no desire for that conversion if even possible. Thank you for any ideas or thoughts.

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Someone posted an instructable about building a plasma cutter - I think you'll have a lot of the big parts for that build. Worth a look, perhaps.

Attachment 18021
This is the data tag off the charger. I'm definitely interested in a plasma cutter build. Thanks for looking into to some ideas.

i know you mentioned that you had welders,
but the first thing i thought was heavy duty spot welder
i like the plasma cutter idea

Take the lid off, lets see the guts! Wanna see some caps, transformers, diodes, and get a idea of the control section...

Remember to be careful, DC can put it on you and it aint nothing nice.

Yup gota see the good stuff

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Originally Posted by Imbeciliac

Someone posted an instructable about building a plasma cutter - I think you'll have a lot of the big parts for that build. Worth a look, perhaps.

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I have read some where this guy used a transformer from a microwave oven. You may want to search the net

Guts pictures will be coming up in a couple days. I should have posted them right away.

Thanks for your patience guys, here are some guts pictures. Attachment 18069,Attachment 18072,Attachment 18073,Attachment 18074,Attachment 18075

Transformer layout kinda unexpected, overall cool. Good start point. Before you get too deep If it was me I would pull datasheet on the diodes and the SCR gates and see where they max out (there's been times I washed I had of). So do you have a plan of action? First thing I would do is get a full working knowledge of the way it works or at least knowing the block diagram.
This might be different but same idea
http://giantbatteryco.com/gbweb/Char...th.Charger.pdf
http://giantbatteryco.com/gbweb/Char...th.Charger.pdf