[Boatanchors] Type 83 tube as a rectifier

[William L Howard]

Thanks to all who sent replies. To be a bit more specific, I am trying
to get a WW II Japanese Battery charger to operate. According to the WW
II TM on the Japanese Army, it has two circuits, one with a Tungar Bulb
for a low voltage circuit for charging vehicle batteries and a high
voltage circuit (90 volts) for recharging B Batteries.

I got the set in an "as captured" condition. Means there were no cables,
no instruction and no tubes. I managed to get a Type 83 and a Tungar
bulb. I cobbled together an input cable(an electricians nightmare) made
of large solderless terminals embedded in casting resin, with screws
sticking out for 110 volt connections. The output cable is two different
size nails embedded in a wooden block.

There are two 10 Amp fuzes in  the set. As best I can determine, the 110
line goes to the 10 Amp fuse, then to a three pole knife switch with one
pole going to the next 10 amp fuse. I assume that the other two blades
go to one of the two power transformers. The second three pole knife
switch  I think is for the high voltage circuit.

When I first powered it up, the Type 83 filaments were glowing. I got a
voltage reading on 315 volts where it should have been 90 volts. The 12
volt output never got much above 3.2 volts. There are two controls, one
for the input current of 150 or 185 AC. There is also a rotary switch
for the Charging current. Since I was not using 150 or 180 volt input, I
was not concerned about the low reading on the 12 volt circuit. BUT 315
volts for the 90 volt system??   Later in the day, another test and the
Type 83 failed to light up but I get continuity on the filament pins.

Any thoughts, helpful hints or ever speculation would be appreciated.

Bill Howard
William L. Howard Ordnance Technical Intelligence Museum
wlhoward at verizon.net  Web Site www.wlhoward.com Phone: 727-585-7756