VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories Checking '51 radio voltage

The radio in my '51 is DOA. The car certainly could use attention in other areas, but playing with the radio gives me something to do once the sun goes down. I got myself a '51 radio manual and I'm looking at the procedure for checking voltage. It say things like "set the master switch to the 12 position" and then "set the master switch to the 600 position." What are they talking about? Isn't a voltmeter a voltmeter?

You don't specify what instrument you are using, however most meters are set up with various ranges for a more accurate reading.

If you don't achieve the results you are looking for on your radio I would be glad to restore it for you. I have a complete stock of parts for your radio.

You will be working with voltages in the 350 VDC range which can "bite" you, so be careful.

I am using a plain old Accutron digital volt meter. The Chevrolet Radio Service Manual says I should be using this fancy thing...

Nice! Do you have the other two factory units?

I don't even have this one. That is a picture I got from another online message board.

I have two sets, each contains 4 units. One set has the "Bowtie" and the other set is marked "BOES". I used these instruments when I was gainfully employed in a radio shop in 1948. When used with the included books, anyone could repair a radio.

Ray, I have a question about condensers. I'm making a list of what needs to be replaced. The parts list shows one condenser used in 3 different places - .05 mfd 600V. tubular. Only one of the condensers currently in the radio is 600V. One of the others is 400V. and the other one is 200V. These condensers do not appear to have been previously replaced. Do I go with the rating of the existing condensers, or go by the parts list?

Regarding this fancy service tool with the 12, 600 and 300 volt settings - in lieu of that I can just use my standard digital meter set at 1K, AC or DC as required, correct?

To cut down on inventory I stock almost all of my condensers in 600 WVDC, That covers most of the paper condensers in most radios. A real critical condenser is the Buffer Condenser, as it needs to be able to handle 1600 Volts. The condenser across the output transformer primary is also a 1600 Volt unit. If the condenser voltage is not available a higher voltage may be used.

Although my 1947 set of equipment is functional, I use mostly units made as kits back in the 50s. I also keep a digital multimeter handy when I get frustrated in restoring a set.

Just for information, my second source of knobs and pushbuttons, is closing down as the supply of merchandise on hand is sold. When I can no longer get critical items, my work will close also. Reconing speakers is also a critical item. Some speaker reconing sources are charging $60.00 for a single speaker.

I figure I have about 1 year left.

I saw the 1600V condenser for the buffer, but that is the only 1600V I saw. I'll have to go back and look at the schematic to see what is called for for the other one.