13-11-2015, 05:14 PM
I did a bit of soldering today and vamped up the H.T. smoothing circuit. I was suspicious of the first electrolytic HT can from the outset so it is now replaced and the capacity at 16 mF (microfarads).
I must admit I had a very hard time getting up the motivation to do this work. I don't have any heating on my boat by day so tend to work in the cold. I save the firewood for the night. Of course, it was the usual routine of plugging in the soldering iron and planning my wiring and then double checking all was as it should be. Then I have the job of laying out a big board and placing the radio chassis on it so it's safe. Also, finding a way to prop up the frayed aerial wire so it's out of the window.
Safety lamp was then prepared. Switched the set on - the second test so far. I was pleased to see the lamp limiter wasn't really glowing at all. A station comes in - Cricket again! Put full voltage on. All was basically safe. No smells of burning or signs of any real crisis. Tried this time to get more wavebands going. I used the blade of screwdriver to move the shaft around but was careful to only touch the plastic handle while doing this. It seems the other wavebands don't perform very well. I got the odd station but nothing to rave about. The cricket was about the best output I was going to get today. Glad to say, though, that the tone is working. Quite clever for the time as well! Turn the knob and the tone changes appreciably.
So, there you have it: Still lots and lots to do. I'll start soon testing anodes and circuit for voltage and compare the schematic. I'll check resistors and bias. Maybe clean up the waveband switch a bit more and replace any substandard wires (the aerial wire is knackered and lost insulation so was a short hazard awaiting).
The good news is it works although pretty poorly on the other bands. I may top up the volume pot to the full 500 K as I only had 475.
Always seem to have to force myself to do this work when the weather is bad. I'm O.K. once I get started.
I must admit I had a very hard time getting up the motivation to do this work. I don't have any heating on my boat by day so tend to work in the cold. I save the firewood for the night. Of course, it was the usual routine of plugging in the soldering iron and planning my wiring and then double checking all was as it should be. Then I have the job of laying out a big board and placing the radio chassis on it so it's safe. Also, finding a way to prop up the frayed aerial wire so it's out of the window.
Safety lamp was then prepared. Switched the set on - the second test so far. I was pleased to see the lamp limiter wasn't really glowing at all. A station comes in - Cricket again! Put full voltage on. All was basically safe. No smells of burning or signs of any real crisis. Tried this time to get more wavebands going. I used the blade of screwdriver to move the shaft around but was careful to only touch the plastic handle while doing this. It seems the other wavebands don't perform very well. I got the odd station but nothing to rave about. The cricket was about the best output I was going to get today. Glad to say, though, that the tone is working. Quite clever for the time as well! Turn the knob and the tone changes appreciably.
So, there you have it: Still lots and lots to do. I'll start soon testing anodes and circuit for voltage and compare the schematic. I'll check resistors and bias. Maybe clean up the waveband switch a bit more and replace any substandard wires (the aerial wire is knackered and lost insulation so was a short hazard awaiting).
The good news is it works although pretty poorly on the other bands. I may top up the volume pot to the full 500 K as I only had 475.
Always seem to have to force myself to do this work when the weather is bad. I'm O.K. once I get started.
