[Johnson] Ranger Meter...

Ed Swynar gswynar at durham.net
Mon Oct 18 10:35:37 EDT 2004


Hi Joel,

Mine failed as a result of the multiplying resistor opening up...

~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ





----- Original Message -----
From: "joel hallas" <jrhallas at optonline.net>
To: "Ed Swynar" <gswynar at durham.net>
Cc: <AG4XM at ARRL.NET>; <johnson at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Johnson] Ranger Meter...


> I did that as well in my Ranger days. As I remember, I had to compute an
> additional series resitance to make the scales read correctly, no big
> deal. I also had to drill some tiny holes in the scale to make the
> screws line up in the new meter.
>
> But the reason for my note is to discuss why I lost my meter, a
> cautionary tale for all Ranger fans! The Ranger, in its overzealous
> (IMHO) quest to be RFI free, put the shielding can on the back of the
> meter with two gromets for the terminals. In their design, the meter has
> full B+ on both terminals, rather than the typical cathode voltage and
> ground of many rigs. As a consequence, the very old rubber dries out,
> cracks and allows the B+ to arc to the shield. If you're "lucky" it will
> arc on the supply side and just damage some power supply componants. If
> you're unlucky, as I was, it will arc on the other side, applying full
> B+  across the meter. The result is not pretty.
>
> My suggestion, get rid of the can. Save it in a box in case it needs to
> go to a museum someday, but for an operating rig, forget about it. I
> would be surprised if there were any difference in TVI. If you are a
> purist, you should at least replace the gromets. Better yet (IMHO) open
> up the holes some and get larger gromets to make a longer arc path.
>
> Good luck, thery're great radios when they work!
>
> 73, Joel (now happy Viking 2 owner!)
> Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR
>
>
> Ed Swynar wrote:
>
> >Tim,
> >
> >If worse comes to worst, you can always replace the "innards" of that
meter with a similarly-sized surplus Simpson brand meter, 0-5 ma. DC, if
memory serves me well...
> >
> >I had to do that with mine when one of the meter multiplier resistors
went south on me, & as a consequence, took the life of the meter with it.
The retrofit went well---NOT a place for shakey hands, though!---& the only
visible difference was the style of the pointer, i.e. if I recall, the
replacement was  pin-shaped at the end, vs. a "spade" end.
> >
> >The original scale face & case can remain---it's just the movement/needle
that is swapped out.
> >
> >Good luck!
> >
> >~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
> >Johnson mailing list
> >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/johnson
> >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html
> >Post: mailto:Johnson at mailman.qth.net
> >
> >
> >
>
>




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