UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Mercury Arc Rectifier

duncanlowe · 31st Jan 2019, 6:42 pm

This won't help at all. But you have properly brought back a memory. When I was in my teens, we helped out by doing a charity collection for something at our local cinema. In return we were given a tour of the projection room and facilities.

Even though we are talking late seventies / early eighties, the projectors were all quite old, and used carbon arc. They had been installed when the town used DC. So when it changed to AC they installed one of these, and a bank of resistors in 'the resistor room'. Later the AC voltage changed, so a big transformer was added.

Seeing one of these, working, hidden in some kind of cupboard with it's eerie purple glow is a long lasting memory.

I just wish I'd taken a camera that day!

31st Jan 2019, 6:42 pm	#5
duncanlowe Nonode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK. Posts: 2,532	Re: Mercury Arc Rectifier - How... This won't help at all. But you have properly brought back a memory. When I was in my teens, we helped out by doing a charity collection for something at our local cinema. In return we were given a tour of the projection room and facilities. Even though we are talking late seventies / early eighties, the projectors were all quite old, and used carbon arc. They had been installed when the town used DC. So when it changed to AC they installed one of these, and a bank of resistors in 'the resistor room'. Later the AC voltage changed, so a big transformer was added. Seeing one of these, working, hidden in some kind of cupboard with it's eerie purple glow is a long lasting memory. I just wish I'd taken a camera that day!