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Zenith 4-B-231 - Converting a Farm Radio to AC Power
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2019
- The synchronous vibrator finally gave up and since this is a daily player for my Dad, I decided to convert the Farm Radio to AC by installing a power transformer and associated parts to eliminate a hot chassis situation for him.
Thanks for watching and subscribing to my channel on vintage radio repair.
![[UNCUT] เพื่อไทยดันอุ๊งอิ๊งนั่งนายกฯ หลังเศรษฐาถูกถอดถอน | คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ | 15 ส.ค. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SpprmDJ6QEE/mqdefault.jpg)
You are a amazing teacher,thanks for sharing
Thanks for you kind words Ron. Best, Don
fabulous job
Thank you. Best, Don
Great idea Don keeping the old farm radio going and making it safer as well with a transformer and bridge rectifier. I still have to finish building the battery eliminator for my 1928 Case Farm Radio have a speaker of the same vintage only had a broken wire when I took it apart soldered it and it works so when I finish the battery eliminator I am hoping this old 1928 farm radio will live again. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Larry. What are the filament voltages and B+ requirements for the 1928 Case? Best, Don
@@RestoreOldRadios Good question Don I am really not sure of what the voltages are on the 1928 case it has 6 CX301A tubes so whatever the filaments are and B plus of 90 volts??? but it's something I need to research on the radio to be sure.
I have this radio!!! Have had it since 1993 and never did anything with it due to having to hook it to a car battery. Nows the time to try and get it going.!
I know you’ll be successful getting it up to par. All the best. Don
@@RestoreOldRadios I just hooked it up momentiarrly to see if the vibrator worked and it fired right up! Ive had this radio 20 some ood years and never did anything with it! Not recapped, and no tubes! I thought for sure it wouldnt do squat, but instead it vibrates when turned on every time.
Hola Don!!!
Really you have done the best on this radio. I never had a radio with internal vibrator to repair, but sometimes I thought on this problem and almost we are in the same wave about doing "electronic vibrators".
Have a nice day and congratulations for your good results.
Ketk (From España)
Ketk - thank you my friend. I considered building a solid state replacement for the vibrator, but stepped away from it. Maybe next time. Thank you again for watching and take care. All the best. Don
@@RestoreOldRadios you are wellcome.
Ketk.
If those are indirectly heated AC tubes in that set you may not need to supply DC to the filaments at all if that's what you were trying for with the regulator. I've heard of these sorts of sets being converted to AC with the old technology, and basically all they added was a generic power transformer with a rectifier tube, filter caps, and a choke for the B+ and ran the tube heaters directly off the 6.3 volt winding.
Thanks for sharing Don.
Thank you Buddy. Best, Don
I did this to a GE 250, I also restored a viberator in another GE 250. Lots of fun, lots of frustration. In my case, the radio still didn't sound that great. Your converter looks very nice. Good design. Hope all is well with you.
Thank you Josh. I’m doing good and still healing from surgery. Hope you’re having fun and enjoying yourself and some new videos are on the horizon. Take care. Best, Don
Don,
You have an amazing knowledge of electronics that seems to solve almost any problem. In general, I sort of followed along and understood the gist of what you were saying. Thanks for the willingness to share what you know.
Regards, Tom
Tom, thanks for your kind words. It was a learning experience for me too. I appreciate you watching. Best, Don
Or you could build a solid state substitute, though it really isn't necessary unless you intend to run it from batteries. You would have to add diodes to the circuit to take the place of the second set of contacts in the vibrator. From what I recall those vibrators run at 150 cycles per second, or is it 120, so if you can put that into the existing transformer you can get your high voltage B+ out of it. I've heard of people feeding 6.3 volts, 60 cycle, AC right into the primaries of vibrator radio transformers but I am not sure how long they would last.
Interesting video. This is the only video on this set that I have seen...didn't see any previous ones you may have made...but this seems to be a very interesting radio. A number of things you did here I would have done differently, some I would have done pretty much the same. Keep working on them and enjoy the process!
Wayne - here’s the playlist for the series if interested: Zenith 4-B-231 th-cam.com/play/PLjLu4V-71S1KfaBDi9XuG_KQ7u5HK2y0C.html
I’m always learning from others and would appreciate the steps you would have taken if you don’t mind sharing. Thanks again for reaching out and making time to watch. Best, Don
Man! Wish I had seen this last Friday! Had an opportunity to pick one of these up last Saturday. Didn't think about a conversion. Next time.
Joe, sorry about the timing. Hopefully another one will come available soon. All the best. Don
It's pretty basic for a battery radio, though it would perform better then a four tube battery set using battery tubes thanks to the higher B+ delivered by the vibrator power supply and the AC tubes it uses.
Wow, as always a nice job. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Crist - thank you. Hope all is well. Best, Don
Although some of this is over my head, I am still keenly interested and like to watch this work. Great job on the conversion to AC power. It is neat how you reused the base of the old tube. You did an ultra neat job as well. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I do appreciate the work you and others do to keep old equipment form the dumpster. I really like old school gear and it is great to repurpose/repair this gear whenever we can or at least salvage it for harvested parts.
Thank you Andy. It was rewarding to bring this back from an inoperable state and get it back to my Dad. He really enjoys playing his old radios too. Thanks again for your kind words and for watching. Best, Don
@@RestoreOldRadios Don, thanks for the quick response. I know exactly what you mean when it comes to doing for our parents whatever we can. It is a blessing to them and you did an awesome job. I certainly love anything tube, among other things. I have an old kuba floor model stereo/turntable that is tube. I also have an old Kris Boomer cb/ham radio power pump. It lacks the proper tubes but it is still a part of my growing colection of tubed gear which sits currently at 2 pieces.... hehehe. Strangely, I am a seasoned 30 plus year professional musician and my main instrument is bass. Although I've had a few tube amps, I sold it all way back when. I didn't have the interest I have now in old tube gear. My cousin dropped of an old fender lead amp for me to work on a few years ago but I was unable to convince him to trade or sell it to me. It was a 1952 champ model. God bless you for salvaging evrything tube and retro that you can. It also makes for exciting videos my friend.
Great video, Don. You are so lucky to still have your dad and be able to do something like this for him.
I appreciate it Ian. I’m very blessed to still have my dad around. He has battled two bouts of lung cancer and has an amazing spirit and outlook on life. Thanks again for watching. Best, Don
I like the regulator in the tube base. It fits right in for having to modernize a bit.
Hi Carl : )
Hey Bobby,,, hope all is well. ;p)
Carl, thanks for watching. I had to eliminate the regulator in the tube base due to heat, but a backup plan came together. Best, Don
Nice clean, safe conversion! Great video! 👍👍
Thank you Bob. My dad has a tendency to poke around the chassis so this mitigates... Best, Don
Very nice conversion!!! Thanks for sharing! I have an old farm radio that I will be converting someday, all this is great info! Thanks again and Take Care--Larry
Larry - I’ve been thinking about you. Hope you’re doing well and your body has recovered from the marathon. Hope to see some new videos from you soon. Best, Don
Great work on the conversion Don, your knowledge never ceases to amaze me!
Thank you Gregg. I hope to catch up on all of your great restorations soon. Thank you for posting your videos too and giving some of these oldies a second life. Keep up the great work. Best, Don
Quick question Don, on my AK 55C the current line voltage 118 - 120vac is higher than it was back in 1929 108 - 110vac, and is running my plate voltages about 50 - 70vdc high. What is my best option to reduce that voltage to get the plates back where they belong? I need your knowledge sir.
Gregg - please review the unlisted video. Let me know if you approve and I’ll make it public if you think it adds value and makes sense. Best, Don
th-cam.com/video/UrkFaES4riQ/w-d-xo.html
It's a perfect video, that helps me tremendously, yes please post it. For those of us still learning the hobby, we need this sort of guidance from those with knowledge and capability to provide the rest of us "Teaching Moments". Thank you Don!
Gregg's Vintage Workshop Just curious what you found in regards to the high plate voltages. Best, Don
I really dislike drilling & cutting on vintage radios like that. I'd probably have replaced the vibrator with a solid state equivalent and fed it all with a small DC supply.
Not my typical approach either. I looked at some of the solid state replacements when I did the initial repairs, but after I got the old vibrator working I moved on. Who do recommend for a solid state replacement? I did build a 6V PS for the radio too, but it draws just under 5 amps of current and it was too big to mount in the cabinet. Best, Don
I really enjoyed this series. The radio went from junk to punk. How does your dad like it? Beautiful restoration of love.
Brad
Brad - I appreciate your kind words. Dad uses it as a daily player and proudly presents it in his office. Thanks again. Best, Don
God I wish I could do what you do i love tubes but can just about change a light bulb 💡😅
Thanks for watching and reaching out. All the best. Don
Hi Don, Good the see you found your way back out buddy : ) Great work around on the failed vibrator. Has always I liked,Shared,Added to playlists. All my best.
I appreciate it Bobby. Hope you and the family are doing well. Best, Don
@@RestoreOldRadios You are very welcome. we are doing well. And the same to you and your Family Don. All my best.
Interesting! I just got one of these. Very timely. Thanks Don! Can you post a copy of the schematic you left in the radio?
I’ll get a copy to you ASAP. Best, Don
I posted a video for reference at: th-cam.com/video/E36sogwwoXU/w-d-xo.html
Please let me know after you review it.
Best,
Don
Just checking in to make sure you saw my earlier post with the info you were looking for? Best, Don
RestoreOldRadios Yes. I saw it. I will use it in my restoration project. I do appreciate your taking the time to make the video and explain it to me. Thanks Don! I’m honored you would do this for a stranger, but fellow hobbyist. Happy capping!😄
Glad it helps. I’ll leave it posted for a while longer if you need to take screenshots. Best, Don
Don, Great video and reference material for us hobbiest. Just purchased a farm set and surveying the parts cost for restoring it. By the way the "15" tubes mine calls for are rare to find. Lol.... Now I have a question that has been in the back of my mind concerning heater voltages: Some manfacturers say 6 volts Ac or Dccan be used for the heater supply voltages. But isn't 6vac actually equal to 8.46 volt Dc &/or isn't 6Vdc actually equal to 4.242 Vac? If so isn't there a 4.2 volt over all range these heaters can operate on and using DC (as such) would draw more current (being at a lower voltage potential)? Forgive me for splitting hairs but if my math is correct, what am I missing? Thanks for your reply. Best regards.
6V RMS (AC) as measured on a DMM is equal to 6V DC. Hope this helps. BTW - I’m reviewing your other question in the video. Best, Don
I have a 1932 RCA console farm radio that I want to see if I can get it going. I need to figure out how to make a power supply that will give me 2 volts for filament and -22.5 for A- bias, and 180 volts for the plates. I didn’t have any idea where else to ask his so I hope this is alright. I would need a simple design, I don’t have much experience with this. Thanks.
Hi Terry - what’s the model number so I can review the schematic? Sorry for my belated response. Best, Don
Hi Terry - just checking to ensure you got my earlier reply. All the best. Don
It is a RCA R43. The only info I can find is on the radio museum sight. I just typed a longer explanation and lost it before I could send it. I hoe this gets to you. Sorry about my poor skills with this stuff.
Email might be easier. tbhPVH@gmail.com
Terry - I’ll reply back by week end. I’ve reviewed the schematic, but need to study it more before recommending a solution. Best, Don