Transformer from a Television and knowing the size?

[MadKad]

Hi

As I am trying to keep the cost of my CNC machine as low as possible, I had a Television I was getting read of, so I opened it and removed the transformer from the inside, aslo kept other stuff just incase I might need them

But the transformer has nothing written on it for size and stuff, is there any way of me finding out what the size in volts and amps is and if its any good for me to use (good size needed)

Hope some one can help

Thank you also for your time

[Al_The_Man]

That must be a fairly old TV if it still used a mains transformer!
It depends if it goes back to an older Valve model or solid state version as to the secondary voltages, the only way is to identify the primary and secondaries and fire it up and check the voltages, the down side is they were not usually very big, power wise.
Al.

[MadKad]

The tv wasnt really that old, it was just one of them standerd tv's not like a flat screen or anything, but thinking about it, it could be more hassle than its worth.

Any ideas on what I might get a good transformer out of?

as I might have something here, just trying to save as much cash on my cnc build as possible

[Bubba]

MadKad,
Find an old Microwave! The bigger the better. Lots of times, you will find them in the trash heap.

[MadKad]

nice one, think my dad might have one thanks for that.

I have two welders ones old, I was going to see if one was in that??

[Bubba]

The welders "may" come close to your ideal voltage also.

There is an article in the magazine section here on the zone on how to rewind a transformer to suit this application.

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by Bubba The welders "may" come close to your ideal voltage also. There is an article in the magazine section here on the zone on how to rewind a transformer to suit this application.

Nice one thank you, I was just looking for the article you said was it in here?

http://www.cnczone.com/modules.php?name=Sections



EDIT: sorry I have a habit of doing this I think I found it

http://www.cnczone.com/modules.php?n...warticle&id=27

that one?

[Bubba]

That's it!

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by Bubba That's it!

Thats great thank you for your help and time

[MadKad]

ok I have been looking around, the microwave couldnt be used as I dont have the old one anymore.

So I looked in the welder I have and there is a massive and I meen like a 12" by 12" transformer in side well its like two in one as the welder has an high and low setting

and I looked at a 12volt car battery charger this has one in also

but what would be best to use, I dont mind using the welder as I can use the welder case for all the drivers etc also.

any thoughts on witch would be best?

EDIT: when I say big I meen like the one used in this in the pics near the bottom, but might be a couple of inches smaller

http://www.dawntreader.net/hvgroup/welder.html

[Al_The_Man]

What you have to watch with welder Txfr is wether it is from a stick welder or MIG, the Mig is usually OK but the stick has a magnetic shunt to limit the voltage out, i.e. they are constant current-variable voltage.
The voltage collapses with current.
The voltage they show in the schematic, looks like it is aimed at making a MIG welder.
Al.

[MadKad]

I have both a arc welder and a mig welder, I wanted to use the arc welder but like you say it will have shunts, but I like my mig better.

looks like its to the drawing board on that again then, apart from I might still use the arc case lol

what about the car battery charger ? its a big transformer like 5"x 5"

lol I am a cheap skate