[R-390] Selenium Rectifier

[rbethman at comcast.net]

So go ahead and make a bunch of phony fins, attach them to the diode, and make it LOOK real.

I've had ENOUGH selenium #@*% go south on me over the years.  The one that REALLY got myself and crew was a couple of them in the late '70s, almost 1980.  The damnable things were internal to a 750KW 2400/4160VAC generator.  They were used for field excitation.

We had excitement alright!  While under full power the bloody %@#$&  things let go.  Had 4160VAC arcs dancing all over the switchgear.  And we were out in the Middle East, in the desert, no replacements anywhere.

I ran like mad for the front of the Gen. package, hit the EMERGENCY shutdown so hard the handle came off in my hand.  The rest of the crew had ran out the door into the sands.

That kind of uncaged, unleashed power at THAT voltage, is pure deadly!

I absolutely NEVER want anything remotely like that in my life again!

Just make a "dummy" with a SS replacement inside.  Live a LOT safer.  Those fumes can kill.

Bob - N0DGN


> B-b-but, the bridge is a solid-state device, and, and, and it's noisy, and,
> and, and it's not a tube, and, and, and....?
> 
> Barry - N4BUQ (the other, other Barry)
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Barry Hauser" <barry at hausernet.com>
> To: "DW Holtman" <future212 at comcast.net>; <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 4:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Selenium Rectifier
> 
> 
> > Hi DW
> >
> > All you'll find are NOS or pulls from chassis and it's best not to rely on
> > them.  I think most would agree, it's OK if the SS bridge is visible -- 
> you
> > have to peek down the back with the cover off -- and that's downright
> nosey.
> > Even if seen, it shows you care. ;-)
> >
> > I haven't had any seleniums fail lately, but one did when I was merely a
> > child back in the late 50's -- in a Motorola TV.  The smoke and acrid
> stink
> > left quite an impression. (If I think about it real hard, I could make
> > myself choke.)  When my uncle visited, he replaced it with the latest
> > thing -- a tiny, shiney, "top hat" silicon rectifier.
> >
> > It's customary to leave the Se rectifier in place and mount the solid
> state
> > replacement nearby.  SOP around here.  They're still pretty, brightly
> > colored and be-finned, yet safe if not in the circuit.
> >
> > Barry
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "DW Holtman" <future212 at comcast.net>
> > To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 5:10 PM
> > Subject: [R-390] Selenium Rectifier
> >
> >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > Does anyone know where I might buy a Selenium Rectifier for the chassis
> of
> > > a R-390A, CR-102. I have replaced it with a solid state bridge for now,
> > > but would very much like to get something more original in the chassis.
> I
> > > could not figure out a clever way to hide the diodes inside the selenium
> > > fins.
> > >
> > > Thank you for your time.
> > >
> > > 73's
> > > DW Holtman
> > > WB7SSN
> > >
> > >
> > > Selenium
> > >
> > >
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