[MRCA] Vibrator replacements for our gear Was: Re: QSL Report

Wed Sep 25 18:06:55 EDT 2024

Hey Dave and all,

Here's one lead on SS vibrators which may be adapted to our mil radio 
needs...

I have had success using a small PC-board-based sold-state vibrator made 
by this outfit: PeKo Radio (pekorf.com) <https://www.pekorf.com/Radio>  
My applications for them were restoring auto radios for customers and 
they worked well. Study his website as he provides some discussion on 
military radio applications for his SS vibrators, too.

Once I someday get to bringing into operation my PP-122/GRC (p/o of my 
complete GRC-3 set, a true boatanchor for sure), I plan to use them in 
its restoration. I absolutely do not expect the two or three vibrators 
used in that unit to function well, if at all, based on my years of 
dealing with '30s-to-'50s automobile radio restorations.

I was given the PP-112 and an RT-66 back when I was 17 or 18 which 
started this whole mil radio collection thing (I'm 71 now and finally 
retired from electrical engineering at a certain major diesel engine 
manufacturer back in March of this year.)

In 1982, for my 29th birthday I made a pilgrimage to the truly fantastic 
Fair Radio Sales (and now closed, doggone it!) and bought myself the 
MT-297 vehicle mount, a NOS RT-70B, NOS R-108 and almost all the other 
components to complete a GRC-3 (plus a _bunch_ of other goodies to 
nearly fill my small '77 Toyota Celica :-) ). Dang! That setup is heavy! 
The car was certainly riding low. And there are two PP-282s found in the 
R-108 and AM-65 units, each of which has its own vibrator.

Typically, when I install a SS vibrator like this Peko product or a 
different, physically smaller product from Aurora Design, I disconnect 
the current vibrator at its socket and hardwire the small SS vibrator PC 
board on very stiff wire(s) to appropriate attachment points and I'm off 
and running. This leaves the original vibrator in place for correct 
cosmetics yet provides a reliably functional radio.

For example, attached is an under-chassis picture of a 1941 Ford radio, 
6-volt positive ground, during restoration back in 2020 which helps show 
how I placed the PeKo SS vib underneath the chassis. Of course, it's the 
modern, out-of-place-looking thing in green. I mounted it using a short 
length of solid #14 AWG wire securely soldered to an isolated post (out 
of view) and used a polypropylene foam pad slipped between it and the 
chassis to absorb vibration. (Don't use urethane foam! ;-) ) Thought I 
had other, more specific pics of the PeKo installation somewhere, but 
this should help convey what I intended. Hope this helps.

I've got _years_-worth of restorations, etc. of my own considerable 
military, ham and household radio and TV collection, vintage test 
equipment, and early computer collection in the queue now that I'm 
retired. 15-to-25 years ago I was a member of several of the qth.net 
email lists (ARC5, R390, GreenKeys, Milsurplus, etc.) until my career 
and family things got squarely in the way of my hobby. You'll likely 
hear from me occasionally on relevant matters for sure going forward. 
Just trying to reorganize my _vastly cluttered _shop, basement, garage 
and attic right now. I'll lurk and/or partake on those other lists, too. 
I have learned a _huge_ amount of info in the past from just reading the 
traffic on them.

The fun is just beginning (again)!  =-)

Best regards, Chris F.

Underchasis pic of '41 Ford radio showing PeKo SS vib installation

On 9/23/2024 8:10 AM, daverain via MRCA wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> We went to the meet after many years, since a last visit. Apparently 
> the building I went thru closest to the parking lot was NOT the Howell 
> building with all the radios. I guess after walking the outdoor swap 
> area, we missed it.
> Anyway, was looking for a couple of items, solid state power supply 
> for bc 611f.
> A lead or purchase of a solid state vibrator for any of my bc 1335. 
> All of my vibrators are dead, even after alot of effort to restore the 
> contacts.
> I guess there is next year!
> Great show
> 73s
> Dave KE2AYO
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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-- 
================================================================
Christian R Fandt
Jamestown, NY 14701
   >  Electrical/Electronic Collector & Historian: Radios, Early Computers, Test Equipment
   >  48-year member of Antique Wireless Associationhttps://www.antiquewireless.org/
   >  Radio restorations:  Pre-1970s Automotive & Home radios
   >  Retired engineer/consultant on electrical/electronic contact physics

-- 
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