VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Bench testing 48 Chevy Radio Model #985793

Am trying to bench test 48 Chevy radio. Should be a no brainer but something's not right. Smokes, sparks, hot/hot connectors each time.

(1) There is no question that I am putting positive 6 volt battery (Optima) terminal to radio's power connector.

(2) Am grounding negative battery terminal to radio case.

(3) Radio has powered up, lit up several times briefly but then connectors hot/hot.

Looks to me as if radios' (have couple) power connectors are in fact brazed to metal cabinet & that positive connector from battery must be fully insulated & inserted carefully into/inside radio's power receptacle.

Would appreciate any insight, detail regarding the positive power connection from radio guru. Like I say, should be no brainer but something obviously is not right.

Thanks.

Do NOT use a battery charger to test/operate any radio.

The negative side of the battery goes to the case.

The positive side is applied in the receptacle on the back of the radio.

Turn radio on. If you have excessive current draw disconnect immediately before you do serious damage to the radio.

If you have a mechanical vibrator it could be shorted internally.

You could have a shorted buffer condenser.

If the rubber tube guiding the connection to the positive receptacle is missing you can get a direct short.

It is possible it has been operated too long in the shorted condition and destroyed the power transformer.

There are other conditions that can produce smoke, fire, crackle and pop.

Unless you are capable of repairing the radio it should be examined by a chevradioman.

"If the rubber tube guiding the connection to the positive receptacle is missing you can get a direct short."

That's it, the rubber tube, its condition, my connection, etc. Direct short! Thanks. Guess it should have been obvious but couldn't accept it was designed that touchy. Thanks. Really appreciate it!

If you can carefully pull off all the old insulation, get a
length of rubber vacuum hose and slip it overthe wire and zip tie it as close the the solder as possible.