[TCML] RANDTRONICS Transformer

[G Hunter]

I'm in possession of an unknown transformer, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.  It is marked "RANDTRONICS 143A00379".  It has eight taps--four identical taps on each side.  I can't see the windings, as they are covered in stiff, black paper.

The tranny weighs 47 Lbs.  It is an E I core of laminated iron, held together with four bolts thru the corners.  The center leg measures 2.625" x 3.56" for 9.35" of cross-sectional area.  The whole core is 7.5"W, 6.25"H, and 3.56"D.  The winding windows are 1.25"W x 3.75"H.

I have two ideas for it.  Idea #1 is to rewind the thing for high voltage.  I have several pounds of #28 magnet wire for the secondary.  How much power can such a core process?  I'm guessing at least 2kW continuously, and perhaps twice that intermittently.

Idea #2 is to rewind it as a variable ballast for my 11kV pole transformer.  I could wind it with #8 THHN wire, and use an adjustable gap between the E and I pieces for current control.  I wonder how many amps such a core can cope with before saturation?

If anyone has a better guess as to the power handling capacity of such a core, please share.  Also, if you know what kind of tranny this is, please let me know.  I'd hate to cut the windings off something useful.

Cheers,

Greg