[Hallicrafters] HT-32B Meter

[Al Parker]

Hi Parker,
    Here's the note note I wrote to the Halli @tempe list back on 1/5 or 6,
and a later one I wrote to a friend.  I've got some pix of the inside of
the mtr if you'd like.  I think I made a sketch/diagram of the mtr
internals & terminal posts, I might be able to find that.
------
Hi all,
    My HT-32 pwr output meter is not working properly, and I'm not sure if
it ever was like the manual says.   At least for a year, with no meter
compression (full sensitivity), max. output (100w) would only deflect the
meter to about full scale (zero db).  It's gotten worse, both in full
output & meter deflection.  Now I'm lucky to get half scale, with an actual
80w out.  The manual says you should be able to adjust the compression to
give full scale with abt 1/4 output.
    It was a bit sticky, so I pulled it out to see whazzup.  This meter has
3 terminals.  The top one is the + terminal, the rt hand one is - (minus)
or gnd, also connected to the meter frame internally.  The third one is??.
    There is a disk-like component inside, connected between the - gnd
term. & the ?? one.  It has a resistance of 6k, in each direction.  What is
it?  This meter is supposed to be non-linear, is this a non-linear
component?  the ?? terminal is connected directly to the incoming rf level
signal, the + terminal has a 5600 ohm resistor between it and the incoming
signal.
    External component values seem to be OK.  I'm concerned about this
mystery disk.  Can anyone enlighten me?
    Also, the pointer is out of balance, seems to need a little more weight
on the bottom arm, opposite the pointer.  I'd like to move the coiled
counterweight outward a bit, but am afraid I'll dislodge or bend something
crucial.  What's the proper procedure/tool?  I've worked inside meters b4
with some success, but definitely caution & carefullness are the key words.
(I do have the stickiness cured)
tnx for reading so far, hope it's clear & somebody can help,
73,
Al, W8UT

Frank,
the ?? terminal, one of the large ones, is just a tie point, but inside, it
has a lug on it that comes awful close to the meter magnet, and may be
what's causing the intermittent operation, when it gets warm it expands &
grounds out.  I wiggled one of the terminals tonite, not sure which of the
big ones, & it became OK.  It didn't really wiggle, I just put some
pressure on it.  I'm going to loosen the post & turn it a little & see if
it grounds, then put it where it's OK, if that's the problem.  If not, who
knows?

<later>
I did this, it helped, but still sometimes quits.  I'm still not sure of
what the problem is.  It was the left side terminal that's the problem
(looking from outside front).

73,
Al, W8UT
New Bern, NC
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Parker Buckley" <buckley at iapdatacom.net>
> The output meter on my 32B is intermittent.  It seems to be internal to
> the meter, in spite of my hopes to prove otherwise.  A friend said this
> was a fairly common problem and may have been dealt with here before.
> Would greatly appreciate any info.
>
> Parker WD8JOL