what the heck is this?

[objectivedays]

<img src="http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... rontUD.jpg">
http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... rontUD.jpg

<img src="http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... sideUD.jpg">
http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... sideUD.jpg

<img src="http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... backUD.jpg">
http://img50.photobucket.com/albums/v15 ... backUD.jpg

I got this little treasure out of my great uncle's garage about a month ago and I just now got a chance to look at it. I plugged it in and I was getting about 18 volts DC at the alligator clips, that is all the testing I got around to doing. I have no idea what this is, it has a cover and a front that are not shown in the picture, it looks like a lunch box when I put the cover on it. On the last picture there are two "contacts" on the back of the case that are connected to the secondary leads of the transformer. In the second picture, you can see the secondary leads going to the back side of the "contacts". There are no markings on this other than a yellow stamp on the bottom that reads "7A". No on and off switch, no meters or gauges of any type. just a wall plug and two alligator clips.

Any ideas? I thought at first a car battery charger, but the 18 volts would be too much for a car battery. Next I thought it might be an electric fence charger, but I really have no idea. Let me know what you think, thanks.

Allen

[wilko]

That is an "interrogation aid" Used mainly in the mid to late 80's.

Now declassified, they have found their way into the underground sex clubs and swinging scene.

[Ballz]

Why would 18V be too much for a battery charger? Nominal voltage for a car battery is 13,8V, and while charging, a car generator can easily deliver 18V (mine does) periodically. I bet it´s a minimalistic homebuilt quickcharger for car batteries. The 7A rating supports my bet

Cheers /Richard

[jhguitarlab]

I was thinking you might be trying to beef up the filter section on that VTB LITE ;-]

Did Uncle maybe have some piece of farm (or audio) equipment that ran on 18volts?

Sure looks like an audio transformer???

JH

[mikewh]

This looks just like my battery charger, the "nubs" on the back are the rectifiers and other than mine having a volt meter on the front, they look quite similar on the inside.

[objectivedays]

Thanks for the input everyone. I guess it is a car battery charger after all, that was my first thought but I was trown off by a couple of things. Thanks again.