You can't get this with surface mount technology

Comments

• lanternfish Posts: 366

  2013-10-17 22:29 edited 2013-10-17 22:29

  A rather large UPS?
• JordanCClark Posts: 198

  2013-10-18 03:54 edited 2013-10-18 03:54

  Looks rather like a PLC, or PC-based rack system. I see three input cards, 2 output cards, though the labeling indicates a third one out of view of the shot.
  
  It almost looks like enough LEDs to be 32-bit I/O...
• Mark_T Posts: 1,981

  2013-10-18 08:53 edited 2013-10-18 08:53

  Is it a very expensive room heater?
• Moskog Posts: 554

  2013-10-18 10:09 edited 2013-10-18 10:09

  Humanoido project finally materialized?
• bomber Posts: 297

  2013-10-18 14:52 edited 2013-10-18 14:52

  It looks like it could be a timing controller for a large fireworks show. The large bundles of wires would make sense for this, and the 480V could be used to ignite the fuses...
• bomber Posts: 297

  2013-10-18 14:53 edited 2013-10-18 14:53

  On second thought, it could be some form of substation control system, handling the switching of current throughout the station?
• bomber Posts: 297

  2013-10-18 14:55 edited 2013-10-18 14:55

  or maybe it could be a lighting control system, for a theater or stage? (Does anyone know how to turn a brain [particularly mine], off?)
• mindrobots Posts: 6,506

  2013-10-18 16:51 edited 2013-10-18 16:51

  bomber wrote: »

  (Does anyone know how to turn a brain [particularly mine], off?)

  Facebook and Farmville......unless (shiver) all those people were like that to start with!
• bomber Posts: 297

  2013-10-18 17:30 edited 2013-10-18 17:30

  Facebook and Farmville......

  I would...but my parents say that I'm 'too young'.
• Gadgetman Posts: 2,436

  2013-10-19 05:43 edited 2013-10-19 05:43

  I know some people who play Farmville...
  And it's an even distribution of vegetables and ordinary people turned vegetable...
  
  Bomber; be very, very thankful to your parents because they have saved you from a digital lobotomy.
  And never let anyone switch off your brain.
  
  Anyway, the squibs they use to set off fireworks, or hobby rockets, works just as well at 12V.
  
  The mystery box has 480V inputs. I notice there's no mention of any 480V outputs... or whether it's AC or DC...
  Isn't 480V DC what's commonly used to run subways and similar transportation systems?
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-19 07:51 edited 2013-10-19 07:51

  There are some pretty close responses, I suppose this board could be in a number of things and you'd have to be experienced with this manufacturer to recognize the actual unit it belongs to. So, here are some hints.
  
  Hint #1: You would find this in a large room or warehouse. There could be one or a lot of them. It is loud, and has a very distinct smell.
  
  Pic #2:
  
  
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-19 07:56 edited 2013-10-19 07:56

  Farmville!? Haha I will never play it but I love it because it exposed tons of anti-gaming hypocrites.
  
  I wish they had Pharmville where you phreak peoples pharms.
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-19 08:02 edited 2013-10-19 08:02

  Here it the DC side of the power supply.
  
  [IMG][/img]
• bomber Posts: 297

  2013-10-19 15:27 edited 2013-10-19 15:27

  Jeez that is a lot of fans! I wonder if it is the control system for a crane or other form of transportational system.
• PoundSign2 Posts: 129

  2013-10-19 18:24 edited 2013-10-19 18:24

  You're right. SMD tech wouldn't take up nearly that much space or produce as much heat. lol
  
  My guess is that it looks like something for Elevators. The Relay Systems in elevators sometimes look a good bit like that. I'm probably very off though. Looks fun to take apart though.
• erco Posts: 20,261

  2013-10-19 18:48 edited 2013-10-19 18:48

  xanadu wrote: »

  You would find this in a large room or warehouse. It is loud, and has a very distinct smell.

  
  OMG, is it ME?
• Peter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383

  2013-10-19 19:13 edited 2013-10-19 19:13

  I say TELCO stuff ........
• mindrobots Posts: 6,506

  2013-10-19 19:31 edited 2013-10-19 19:31

  Peter KG6LSE wrote: »

  I say TELCO stuff ........

  
  TELCO stuff will be 48V DC if it's in a central office. No reason it would be in a warehouse specifically or have a unique smell.
  
  erco beat to to my guess (I was going to guess me, not Eric!)
• Tumbler Posts: 323

  2013-10-19 20:14 edited 2013-10-19 20:14

  Maybe a 'Power Network Center '?
• SRLM Posts: 5,045

  2013-10-19 20:36 edited 2013-10-19 20:36

  It's a battery charger?
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-20 08:34 edited 2013-10-20 08:34

  Hint #2: I was installing serial to Ethernet adapters to replace the use of a floppy drive or manual keying.
• Tim-M Posts: 522

  2013-10-20 09:17 edited 2013-10-20 09:17

  Is it a commercial transmitter of some sort?
• Gadgetman Posts: 2,436

  2013-10-20 09:24 edited 2013-10-20 09:24

  It's the controller for some sort of robot/automated retrieval system?
• Microcontrolled Posts: 2,461

  2013-10-20 10:28 edited 2013-10-20 10:28

  I'm thinking maybe some sort of inventory tracking, but the "has a distinct smell" part is really throwing me off.
  
  Is it the control system for a loading dock? (controlling the doors, ramps, lifts, etc. ) That would explain the high voltage, noise, and hey, I don't know, maybe it has a smell too.
  
  Maybe some sort of fluid control system?
  
  Not sure why either one of these requires an Ethernet control system but Industrial electronics is not my forte.
• ratronic Posts: 1,451

  2013-10-20 11:04 edited 2013-10-20 11:04

  After blowing up the picture of the controller I could see it operates motors of different types.
• Tim-M Posts: 522

  2013-10-20 11:07 edited 2013-10-20 11:07

  Electronics/control system of a CNC machine maybe, the cabinet color looks like Fadal anyway...
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-20 13:58 edited 2013-10-20 13:58

  Tim-M wrote: »

  Electronics/control system of a CNC machine maybe, the cabinet color looks like Fadal anyway...

  
  We have a winner! You're quite correct it is an Okuma 5 axis mill. The distinct smell would be cutting fluid.
  
  I got to install around 40 Predator DNC systems on a variety of mills, lathes, and indexers, really neat stuff! It's serial over wireless. I get to do these installs because I can setup secure wireless networks. Glad that can cross me over into fun jobs like this!
• xanadu Posts: 3,347

  2013-10-20 13:59 edited 2013-10-20 13:59

  Thanks for playing along that was fun
• Tim-M Posts: 522

  2013-10-20 21:39 edited 2013-10-20 21:39

  Thanks for the challenge Xanado, it was fun to try and figure out!