25-02-2015, 01:19 PM
The PCL86 is more readily available than the ECL86. Over on the Hacker Radio group, we've discussed the prospect of using these in Hacker Mayflowers and the record players, and Ian has experimented with some success. He kindly sent me a couple to try, and I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't got around to it as yet.
Our thinking was that as they need a heater voltage of around 12V, we could use a voltage-doubling rectifier to take the existing heater supply and step it up. I think he's succeeded (it's been a while since we last chatted about it). I planned to try a different voltage doubling scheme that enabled the 0V connection to be maintained, so the wiring under the chassis would need one less mod per valve. But then I had the idea of making the doubler as a tiny "module" that would plug into the existing valve socket. It would have a socket of its own, into which the PCL86 would be plugged. This means no mods at all to the set, and should someone in the future ever install an ECL86, there would be risk of damage (low though that risk is).
However, that idea stalled when I failed to find the requisite plug. I'm sure something exists, but I haven't stumbled across it yet.
This thread has re-awakened the idea though, so thank you
Mark
Our thinking was that as they need a heater voltage of around 12V, we could use a voltage-doubling rectifier to take the existing heater supply and step it up. I think he's succeeded (it's been a while since we last chatted about it). I planned to try a different voltage doubling scheme that enabled the 0V connection to be maintained, so the wiring under the chassis would need one less mod per valve. But then I had the idea of making the doubler as a tiny "module" that would plug into the existing valve socket. It would have a socket of its own, into which the PCL86 would be plugged. This means no mods at all to the set, and should someone in the future ever install an ECL86, there would be risk of damage (low though that risk is).
However, that idea stalled when I failed to find the requisite plug. I'm sure something exists, but I haven't stumbled across it yet.
This thread has re-awakened the idea though, so thank you
Mark
