The capacitors were all 330 uFD at 200 VDC, recycled from modern surplus (two computer power supplies).  Diodes are all cheap 1N4007. Since these receivers use class A audio output,  voltage variations were not a problem.  I tested the DC output with C-7 incandescent light bulbs to verify load handling.  The full write-up for resurrecting and several approaches to powering a Navy ARA and an ARC-5 are in my articles in the Jan and Feb 2021 issues of The Spectrum Monitor, the monthly PDF follow-on to Monitoring Times for which I write the monthly radio restoration column.
Rather than creating a new front control panel for these, if you have an unhacked unit, the RF gain control, BFO switch, etc., connections are all accessible at the rear plug in.

I am big on recycling and using modern "surplus".  Powering an ARC 5 and an SCR-274N transmitter for QRP (and QRO) is covered in my columns in the Dec 2015 and Jan 2016 issues.  In powering for QRP, I used a pair of back-to-back UPS transformers (modern surplus) for isolated 120 VAC and rectified-filtered that for about 160 VDC but also used the 16.5 volts in between the transformers with a resistor and an LM-317 to feed the transmitter filaments which had already been hacked a bit and converted to 12 volts.  Capacitors and bridge rectifier were recycled from a computer power supply.  For more voltage, a doubling scheme can be used. I did that for a Navy receiver, but I haven't tried that with ARC-5 transmitters as yet.  For QRO, I used a Heathkit HP-20 with the oscillator and the screen voltages separately regulated by adding a couple of N-channel MOSFETS and a heat sink (yes, recycled from computer power supplies) and zeners right inside the HP-20. 

Fun stuff! Enjoy,

73 Rich KB8TAD



On Thu, Apr 6, 2023 at 12:13 PM Dave Merrill <r390a.urr@gmail.com> wrote:
Rich, what are the values for C1-C4? I was just eyeing a 28VAC filament transformer and thinking about using one of those DC-DC boost devices, but this is much simpler.

Dave N9ZC 

On Wed, Apr 5, 2023, 10:31 PM Rich Post <kb8tad@gmail.com> wrote:
Since the original question was power supply.  Here's a simple method I have used, a 24 volt transformer for the original series filaments.  The transformer also feeds a voltage quadrupler with common ground.  The 200 volt electrolytic capacitors were recycled from a couple of computer power supplies.  If you want more than 134 volts, the circuit can be extended to a fifth cap. 

73 de Rich KB8TAD

Half-wave quadrupler module with common ground.JPG
Voltage quadrupler power supply schematic.jpg


On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 10:53 PM <hwhall@compuserve.com> wrote:
Here's a look at another way to do a recap. The terminal board work was accomplished by Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) in 1955.

Wayne
WB4OGM

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb@gmail.com>
To: Robert P. Meadows <rpmeadow@bellsouth.net>
Cc: Dennis Monticelli <dennis.monticelli@gmail.com>; hwhall@compuserve.com; arc5@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wed, Apr 5, 2023 4:52 am
Subject: Re: [ARC5] BC-453-B Power Supply

" Do the “RECAP”  correctly"

Using Tom Frobase's cap replacement kit is not the "correct" way to refurbish a receiver;  it is an alternate way.  

Tom's kits are very nice as I've looked at them before but on all the receivers I've recapped I've used just solder lugs or terminal strips.   I've never had any problems.

As Tom's video says, the only one that's going to know what's inside the radio is yourself, so what it looks like doesn't matter, and I agree with him.  In the decades I've been restoring radios, never once have I had someone come into my shack and ask to look under the chassis.   If you're a purist,  then you will certainly not want to use solder lugs, terminal strips, or Tom's kit as none of them are authentic -- you'll restuff the potted caps.   I never restuff the caps; I just save them in a bag with the radio's serial number on it so when I sell it (or croak...) and my radios go to the next person they'll have the option to repot.

Interestingly, Tom seems to make a contradictory statement later in the video.  He indicates that when using terminal strips etc there's no structural way to put the capacitors in the radio and it looks like crap.   

If you're going to use your radio in an airplane going through air combat maneuvering then I'd worry about a good structural way to mount the replacement capacitors.  Otherwise, solder lugs and terminal strips will be more than adequate.

I disagree with converting the filaments to 12V - that's just my opinion; YMMMV.   Just buy or build a 28V supply and build a B+ supply.  I used a HB HV supply for years then went over to an HP-23 that I picked up at hamfest;  the LV output on the HP-23 with a dropping resistor works great.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Tom's kits -- they are very nice.   If you have a supply of caps, solder lugs and terminal strips which a lot of us have, I would not pony up for the price of his cap replacement kit.   If you don't,  Tom's kits looka to be a good one stop shopping solution.

73 Mark K3MSB





















On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 10:47 PM Robert P. Meadows <rpmeadow@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Do the “RECAP”  correctly, purchase Tom Frobase’s capacitor kit, believe it is kitparts or such.  Slick printed circuit boards that hold the capacitors and fit the existing holes from removing the beeswax filled leaky tubs.  Works well, and I do believe that is what Aircraft Radio would have done, had such been available.
R
 
From: arc5-bounces@mailman.qth.net <arc5-bounces@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Dennis Monticelli
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 10:38 PM
To: hwhall@compuserve.com
Cc: arc5@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [ARC5] BC-453-B Power Supply
 
If you elect to not restuff the cap pots, it is easy to re-cap the set. Install a solder lug using the threaded stud that mounts the pot.  That's your ground.  Then it's typically three small caps (most are 0.05) from the lug directly to the stiff wires you cut from the cap pot terminals.
 
Yes, lower voltage than 250V works fairly well.  My experience is to keep it at least 60V for decent gain and sure starting of the BFO.  The lower in voltage you go the more you're going to want to short out one of the R's in the screen voltage divider to keep the gain from decreasing too much.
 
FYI.  My 453B pulls only10mA at 60V with new caps.  I've run it off a stack of 9V batteries and they last a long time.
 
Dennis AE6C
 
On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 6:57 PM <hwhall@compuserve.com> wrote:
Those Command Set receivers had a B+ dynamotor that supplied 250v at 60 mA. Many people operate the sets on lower B+.  If these little round "flower pot" caps are the ones you're looking at, they aren't soldered shut.  The edges are bent over the mica insulators.  Most people either trash the old cap pots or carefully remove, cut them open, restuff & either glue or solder the cut edge.

Wayne
WB4OGM
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Little WB4UIV <glennmaillist@bellsouth.net>
To: arc5@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tue, Apr 4, 2023 7:45 pm
Subject: [ARC5] BC-453-B Power Supply
I have a BC-453-B that has minimal hacks.
At a recent hamfest I found a ARN-30 solid state dynamotor replacement.
This power supply will properly mate with the receiver.
Should this supply power the receiver properly?
Some of the can capacitors along the side of the receiver are leaking.
It looks like these have a soldered on top.
Is it a lot of trouble to rebuild these capacitors?

Thanks
73
Glenn
WB4UIV
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little                ARRL Technical Specialist   QCWA  LM 28417
Amateur Callsign:  WB4UIV            wb4uiv@arrl.net    AMSAT LM 2178
QTH:  Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx)  USSVI, FRA, NRA-LM    ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html