Eltek Flatpack 2 ?

[Retired]

Hi,

This is a long shot but does anyone know how to use one of these Eltek power supplies please?

The story is that once I get some workshop time I want to experiment with both transformer metal melting;

Also induction heating;

I've already bought a commercial 1,950W microwave oven transformer to experiment with and I've bought an induction heater.

The Eltek was a mistake on my part not understanding what it was; I expected a plug and play power supply but upon receiving the Eltek I don't even know how to plug it in because I'm unfamiliar with the sockets; I've done a bit of web browsing and believe the Eltec needs some kind of interface in order to control it?

I've wound many transformers and made my own power supplies but this Eltek is a complicated bit of kit to play with. It wouldn't be a problem to make a power supply from scratch using the microwave transformer but I'm interested in the Eltek.

Out of interest one thing I'll experiment with is the microwave transformer; in it's basic state it will be too uncontrollable; I want to tame it to braze TC tips to tooling; my idea is to use a motor speed controller on the supply; I can't control the amps without adding a secondary load but perhaps by controlling the input voltage then this will automatically control the output amps; I'll be experimenting and whatever I do I'll never fail because I'm always learning. I'm aware of electrical safety having done lots of electrical work over the years.

As I say it's a long shot but I'd appreciate any help or advice.

Kind regards, Colin.

Update, I've just found this which might help?

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1280017/Eltek-Flatpack2.html?page=4#manual

 

[Seadog]

Here are the connections. They are designed for rack mounting.

I'm not sure that you'll be able to use it, at least not without a serious amount of playing around. There is a control bus as you can see in the image.
Short of buying a rack for it I think it's a doorstop I'm afraid to say.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks Seadog for your welcome and informative reply. I just knew it would be a pain as soon as I received it so your comment doesn't come as a surprise. I think I'll sell it on; it's brand new and the prices on eBay being asked are quite a bit more than I paid for it. I'm not often caught out but I've been well and truly caught out with this. Never mind because I've learned something new. I had hoped someone on the forum was using one of these with something like this;

I don't wish to spend lots of time learning or trying to use the PSU it's simply not worth it when I can make a PSU from scratch a lot quicker; I'm not ready to play with these projects yet due to more pressing jobs around the home.

Also thanks to the moderator for moving this thread to it's correct position.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Seadog]

I did a search and couldn't find anything that might be helpful. It just goes to show how a small difference in the search string brings up results.

 

[Kram]

What is the induction heater you have bought?
I was looking at the chinese ones on ebay.

Power supply, manual hints that it has a "stand alone mode". You can open it up, trace back the connections to identify live and neutral inputs. Add a soldered connections inside to avoid the connector and mask it off. It may power up and run without the controller.
For what your doing Id prefer a big transformer as they dont mind being overloaded so much.

The links in the youtube are a detailed design for a stm32 CAN controller, so it is very possible.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks Kram for you reply. The induction heater I have is this;

Your useful suggestion regarding opening it up is what I initially intended to do; I've done some electronic work so I'm familiar with components etc.

Every bit of information helps such as your kind mention of a stm32 CAN controller;

https://www.st.com/content/ccc/reso...nt/translations/en.STM32L4_Peripheral_CAN.pdf

I've never heard of these but I'm a quick learner; I'm just so bogged down with jobs around home to concentrate on workshop projects for a while but I keep doing bits of research time permitting as I'm doing here by posting this thread. I've cancelled the Gumtree advert because this Eltek is starting to interest me and will be something to play with.

I fully agree though a transformer would be the best option and I've wound many transformers. Before retirement I worked at an electric motor manufacturer and was allowed to bring home prototype and test motors as long as I never sold any; I've had a pair of 2.2KW 3 phase motors sitting doing nothing for over 20 years these being 8 pole. I could strip one for its laminations and use the laminations to make a transformer; I already have suitable bridge rectifiers and even possibly have capacitors; I like transformers because they don't have circuit boards to go wrong or to complicate things.

I'd better get off my backside because I've plenty to do today; being retired I haven't enough hours in a day and I still dream of quality workshop time.

Kind regards, Colin.