Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

I pick up this 1955 Reps JC20 Reel to Reel I only come by one post on this tape player and it was on here. I have a good look in side and its clean but did not have a mains lead or plug with it .What is the best way for me to wire it up as in uk wiring . I look as post on doing a light bulb in the wiring as its old I did not see any paper caps in the unit. Thanks LES.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Hello Les and welcome to the Forum.

I am not familiar with the JC20 or any of the other various Reps/Elon recorders.

Post # 6 of this linked Thread has the electrical schematic/circuit diagram.

https://www.google.com/url?client=in...AuyDAyzZ3ZWr0o

This shows a 3 pin mains connector but I do not know what type it will be (can you post a photo). It should be a plug (i.e. with male pins). The mains cable you would require would be a 3 core mains cable with a standard 3 pin UK plug at one end (to plug into the wall socket) and a 3 pin mains connector socket (female pins) to plug into the recorder connector.

From the schematic the Earth connection connects to earth/ground (bottom end of capacitor C36), the Neutral connection should connect to the top end of of C36 and the Live connection should connect to the 1 Amp mains fuse.

For UK use the mains voltage selection switch/links should be set to 240V.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

I now see that the second attachment from Post 6 of the link above refers to disconnecting the mains lead from the terminal block. So even though the schematic appears to shows a 3 pin mains connector, maybe the mains cable is actually hardwired into a terminal block.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Here are two photos, one of back mains connector, it's a 22mm hole and it looks like it's laying over to the left. So the top left is Earth and right next to ON/OFF is live.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Thank you for your post I have posted a picture. As with post 2 yes it still has 2 wires going to a block terminal. Without the plug that comes with it it's hard to say if it was 2 or 3 wires from the plug.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Looks like a standard Bulgin mains connector - would expect there should be an earth.

Those Bulgins are not cheap these days, I must look and see if I have any old ones knocking about.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Yes certainly looks like an old standard sized Bulgin 5 Amp chassis mains connector.

Would have thought that all 3 pins are wired internally.

These old connectors may not meet modern safety spec's.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

They don`t, but we are sensible people surely? I sometimes wonder how many people were seriously harmed by older connectors which are now deemed to be unsafe.

I am not in any way condoning careless or stupid use of older equipment.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Yes fully agree.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

I have removed all the components from the casing. Taking the plug section apart for further investigation, I came across a melted piece of solder (see pic of where I think it came from). This black thing which came from one side of the plug to one side of the fuse which also goes to the top terminal of the voltage selector then it returns to the mains transformer. I do not understand
electronics so I think this one is dead. Les

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

That's a 0.1uF capacitor which looks like it's wired from mains to chassis.

The player will work without it. Any replacement should be a class Y type.

I notice another wire on the same tag as the broken end of the capacitor which appears to go to an earthing tag? If so this would indicate that a three core mains cord is appropriate.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Thank you , good news I remove the old plug and fit one more up to date and see if it works. thank you all for posts I will be back with a up date later. Les

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

It's got a standard Collaro tape deck which are easy to get going with service manuals available on this forum up at the top of this page, but make sure you fully free of and re-lubricate ALL the speed change mechanism before attempting to change speed, otherwise you'll snap the control knob off and you won't be able to get another one, as they all get snapped off and a lot of folk are looking for them without success.

Those Bulgin plug/sockets are nearly always available on ebay, but make sure you get the right size - the smaller ones are cheaper than the larger ones and tape recorders like that are generally fitted with the smaller ones, but you need to check and take measurements, as I can't tell from your picture exactly which one it is.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

This appears to be C36, although the schematic does not show it connecting to the fuse.

Cannot quite see from the photo (my eyes are not as keen as Grahams) but is there a wire connecting to the Bulgin mains connector where the broken end of C36 connects to ? this wire should connect to earth as per the schematic.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

It looks like the standard (larger) size Bulgin. From Post 4 which said the hole was 22 mm I think supports that it is the larger version.

David

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Yes, it seems it is the larger and very much more expensive size - unusual for a 50s tape recorder which usually use the smaller size. Hopefully someone will be able to find him one or it'll mean making a modification to the unit.

It looks like the earth connection goes to a removed eyelet that would have been under a nut and bolt connection presumably removed by the OP when dismantling - make sure it gets re-connected on assembly.

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

If this is the correct size, then this one is available, but personally I'd be making a temporary connection to check the unit out first, but be careful you don't electrocute yourself!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bulgin-3-...AAAOSwtmVgLZX6

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

I've blown up the picture which shows a wire connected to a "floating" solder tag. I assume the tag was bolted to the chassis, but was unbolted when the player was dismantled?

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

Agreed, the keyway is for the standard size, not the miniature.

It may be sometimes worth bearing in mind that there was once an even larger size Bulgin connector, used, inter alia, on some Gaumont Kalee equipment so the normal fifties standard size is actually the middle size.....

The major safety limitation with these connectors was the ability to remove the cover without the use of a tool. The miniature version was available with a different cover arrangement which overcame this problem but it was then not quite so miniature,

Re: Reps JC20 Reel to Reel
 

From memory I think the smaller one has a 'rounded' keyway, whereas the larger one has a 'squared' keyway, although I seem to remember seeing a 'rounded' larger sized one once, so there's some variations. I've got a couple of items in general use around the house that use that middle size 22mm plug and socket with all the stuff that uses the smaller size being stashed away in the loft. I've also got an example of the giant Bulgin plug and socket too. I think the one I linked to has a 50 volt voltage limit stamped on it, so it's not a very old one, but the reason for that voltage rating is purely because they don't comply with modern regulations and not because they can't handle mains voltage. Having said that, the whole tape recorder will not comply with modern regulations, so it's just like any other vintage item that doesn't comply and can still be used. Some later Bulgins have a cord grip arrangement to improve safety, but they'll never fully comply - they "are what they are"!