[Milsurplus] Milsurplus Digest, Vol 109, Issue 30

[Michael A. Bittner]

Upon the suggestion by Hue Miller, I contacted Bengt Falkenberg concerning the power source for the ER65, 500 kHz Emergency Receiver. He has given his kind permission to forward his reply to this list.  I think you will find it very interesting and informative.  Mike, W6MAB

Hello Michael,

Thanks for your mail.

The 65 V DC power system was in use on ships from the 1920s up till the end 
of 70s as far as I know. A battery pack consisting of large NiFe-cells 
(nickel-iron) was used. According to old literature one also used the 65 V 
batteries to power a motor generator to generate 500 cycle AC-voltages for 
the ships radio and other equipment in case of an emergency etc. The 500 
cycle generator was used to power the spark gap transmitter. Normally in the 
power range 75-400 W. However, the ER65 receiver always got its power 
directly from the Nife battery pack and had to be switched on 24H.

Here in Sweden the ER65 was scrapped from most ships in 1967-69 due to new 
regulations. I remember that the receiver was put on sale for eqv 2-3 USD 
each in 1968 when I got my first as a lucky young boy. Today the ER65 
receiver is very rare and a hard to find item. Guess most of them are gone. 
The one I now have I was lucky to pick up from a marine radio museum in 
Gothenburg few years ago. Price was about 50 USD. My ER65 is still in good 
shape after all these years and in fully working condition. High sensitivity 
and nice note on CW. In this area in the very southern part of Sweden I can 
receive amateur radio beacons from Germany and Denmark.

73
Ben


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hue Miller 
  To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 10:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Milsurplus Digest, Vol 109, Issue 30


  Now re the ER65 receiver, that voltage is a new one to me.  It's not
  12, 32, or 120 DC.  Maybe you could contact Bengt Falkenberg,
  whose ER65 is on the RadioMuseum pages?
  I guessed the date about the same, judging by the one "Made
  in Germany" capacitor I saw.

  Looking thru old marine radio manuals, I have seen plenty of examples
  of simple circuit, but this is the most elementary marine product,
  overall, I have ever seen, I mean, considering the circuit and the 
  mechanics together. 
  -Hue Miller