What even is this??

[EasternPromise]

My friend bought a house from an 80+ year old retired electrical engineer. House is grid tied but with 15 rooftop panels and this monstrosity in the basement.
Any guesses on what we're looking at here?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Bluedog225]

Wow

 

[EasternPromise]

Mess load of breakers, generator and a string of random batteries (all disconnected at this point).

I'm equally intrigued and terrified looking at all of this.

 

[Hedges]

Solar charger, generator, and I think a motor-generator. The days before inverters?
Manually adjusted rheostat to regulate generator output.

I would be concerned about fumes from the engine. I have seen Onan "Vacu-Flow" design where cooling air was sucked not blown over engine, and exhausted. Negative pressure to capture fumes that get out places other than exhaust pipe.

 

[chess-equality]

My friend bought a house from an 80+ year old retired electrical engineer.

Mess load of breakers, generator and a string of random batteries (all disconnected at this point).

I'm equally intrigued and terrified looking at all of this.

Is there a manual lying around?

 

[Sebanavila]

My friend bought a house from an 80+ year old retired electrical engineer. House is grid tied but with 15 rooftop panels and this monstrosity in the basement.
Any guesses on what we're looking at here?
Thanks in advance.

did you find a sign like this one?




this thing looks like one of those Russian nuclear testing equipment's from the 50's !!!

 

[sunshine_eggo]

View attachment 111774

WAY too many switches in the off position... Must... turn... on....

 

[Sebanavila]

WAY too many switches in the off position... Must... turn... on....

I'm telling you, this is SCARY, it gives me the goosebumps just to see the pictures.

 

[Darren67-72]

Omg, I cant stop looking at it..... it's a work of art. But don't touch ANYTHING.

 

[chess-equality]

Omg, I cant stop looking at it..... it's a work of art. But don't touch ANYTHING.

did you find a sign like this one?


View attachment 111781

this thing looks like one of those Russian nuclear testing equipment's from the 50's !!!

When the aliens finally do come, touch EVERYTHING.

?

 

[bones1]

A time machine.

 

[EasternPromise]

Is there a manual lying around?

Lol - I wish. Manual likely involves a recently passed man's psychodrama of unfulfilled passions.

 

[EasternPromise]

A time machine.

Many a flux capacitor jokes have been made.

 

[EasternPromise]

Solar charger, generator, and I think a motor-generator. The days before inverters?
Manually adjusted rheostat to regulate generator output.

I would be concerned about fumes from the engine. I have seen Onan "Vacu-Flow" design where cooling air was sucked not blown over engine, and exhausted. Negative pressure to capture fumes that get out places other than exhaust pipe.

Thanks, is the Newmar not a marine style inverter/charger? What function could the home made steel box contained contraption serve?

 

[Steve_S]

Old School DIY run Amok !

 

[SparkyJJO]

Gotta watch out for them old retired EEs. You get some weird stuff going on.

Heck, the younger ones can do some pretty crazy (stupid?) stuff too. Don't look in my basement right now, please.

I have an EET degree, worked in IT for 10 years, switched into vehicle electronics, now I'm a data monkey. Mix that with an unhealthy level of curiosity and the urge to tinker... Hah, probably a good thing I'm married with little kids, I'd probably really be doing extra stupid stuff on my own.

Man, I want to really dig into that. I think it is kinda cool and I want to know what he did there.

 

[Steve_S]

Man, I want to really dig into that. I think it is kinda cool and I want to know what he did there.

With or without a Big Bottle of Tylenol 3 ?

 

[MurphyGuy]

How could you not recognize that?

Its a standard 40 gallon electric water heater.

 

[John Frum]

My friend bought a house from an 80+ year old retired electrical engineer.

If he is still around, ask him.
Be prepared for a long and confusing answer.

If he is not around, I wonder where/when he went.

Don't forget to feed the dog.

 

[EasternPromise]

If he is still around, ask him.
Be prepared for a long and confusing answer.

If he is not around, I wonder where/when he went.

Don't forget to feed the dog.

He has passed. He is now 'one' with the energy force that once flowed through this monstrosity.

 

[Vigo]

These pictures make me giddy. Someone was having a lot of fun. I'm slightly jealous. And this is coming from a guy who already has PLENTY of project ingredients sitting around on 5 acres.. I wish i could have talked to the guy!!

 

[Mattb4]

I see several generations of equipment necessary to take solar power and convert it to AC. Along with generator backup. Much of which is probably wired around as newer equipment came along. The only thing missing is a bunch of vacuum tubes, huge control panel with blinking lights and a lightning generator. Dr. Vicktor Von Frankenstein would be proud.

 

[chess-equality]

I see several generations of equipment necessary to take solar power and convert it to AC. Along with generator backup. Much of which is probably wired around as newer equipment came along. The only thing missing is a bunch of vacuum tubes, huge control panel with blinking lights and a lightning generator. Dr. Vicktor Von Frankenstein would be proud.

Sensible for the legacy (vintage? ) equipment to be appraised by an auction house? Or nobody would care?

 

[EasternPromise]

Sensible for the legacy (vintage? ) equipment to be appraised by an auction house? Or nobody would care?

I was thinking about a side hustle as a live action museum.

 

[realpinochet]

This is how the Philadelphia experiment started!

Philadelphia Experiment

Additional resource: Philadelphia Experiment, Office of Naval Research Information Sheet

www.history.navy.mil