[GreenKeys] AN/FGC-1 and AN/FRR-3 Project

[wa2hwj at att.net]

ZCZC

Similar to Larry, I am embarking on a restoration project:

I'm starting to bring my newly-acquired AN/FGC-1
RTTY terminal (all 425 lbs of it) back to life. Last weekend, I
disconnected the plate caps of the rectifier tubes and turned
on the unit. All 39 tubes seemed to warm up, after awhile. 
All wiring looks good (65 years later).  This coming weekend I'll
check out the rectifiers to make sure I have plate voltage
(believe it or not, the plate voltage is supposed to be 130 VDC!). 
Then, I pump in some 850 shift AFSK tones to check operation.
Next comes the companion AN/FRR-3 dual diversity
receiver (all 440 lbs of it). It is a four-channel, 1-23 MHZ
receiver that was designed to be used with the FGC-1. 
Both of these thinigs are in WECO 7 ft. enclosed racks.
If I can get both of them working, I won't have to worry about
heating the house this winter.

With the help of a local HAM and his pickup truck, we
rescued these beasts from a local HAM's basement. I'm
still aching...

73,

Jack WA2HWJ

NNNN


-------------- Original message from telegrapher at att.net: -------------- 


> After getting the primary voltage meter to read correctly i was ready to 
> proceed with the power up process. 
> 
> As i had the power amp also installed and hooked up, the paperwork says 
> i could turn on the Transmitter voltage and High voltage switches and 
> see the proper lights come on. NADA. Now what. Nothing is simple 
> anymore. Another jug of water please. 
> 
> Checking the PS-4 schematic i see that the bias voltage runs through the 
> control relay to the timer tube. Also the other relay and overload 
> circuit breakers have this voltage running through them. Must be that 
> a) either the bias voltage isn't there or b) the timer tube isn't 
> working. Egads. Pull top cover off of the PS-4 and stare at the timer 
> tube. I should have one of them around here someplace. Check junkbox. 
> Nothing but 26NXXX type timer tubes. Go back to staring at schematic. 
> Well if i pull the tube out and apply a ground at pin 5 of said tube 
> it should pull in control relay as that's part of the operation. Apply 
> power again. But instead of pulling the tube i just watched to see if 
> the time delay tube actuated. Shortly i hear a click and other tubes in 
> the various regulator circuits light up. AHA! That part of the circuit 
> is working so there must be bias voltage. WHy no HV nor transmitter 
> power lights? Back to the paperwork..... 
> 
> Tracing the bias line i see it goes not only through the control relay 
> but through the 3 overload circuit breakers and another relay out to the 
> PA through 4 interlock switches, back into the PS-4 and then down into 
> the PS-5 HV supply, through a couple more interlocks and then back to 
> the transmitter on Switch. Just what i need. More water please. 
> 
> I disconnected the cable from the PS-4 going to the RF amp and placed a 
> VOM across pins D and E. No short. Open contact in the Amp. I 
> subsequently found that the bottom cover interlock was not functioning. 
> The pin that slides back and forth making or breaking the contact was 
> bent. Straightening it out corrected the interlock problem. I now had 
> continuity through that cable and piece of gear. I had already checked 
> the wiring through the PS-5 HV supply so now should be good to go. 
> 
> Reconnecting all the cabling, replacing the Amp into the rack (ugh, 
> heavy and awkward). Hook AC back to the unit and turn on AC. Lots of 
> blower noise which is a good sign. After a few minutes and another jug 
> of water cause i'd been doing a lot of sweating over this, and 
> determining that things were not smoking anyplace, i turned on the 
> transmitter switch and then the HV switch. VOILA! There are now red 
> and green lights showing voltages are present to the amp and meter 
> readings are also there. 150 Ma resting current. 
> 
> It's gonna work. Now to get the GPE-1 hooked into the system to see if 
> it will generate power, fix the VOX and SBE units and i'll be generating 
> RF! 
> 
> Life is getting better in my advancing years...... 
> 
> Larry 
> W0OGH 
> 
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