Saba Baden Baden W5

[Radio Tech]

Hi Folks

I am shortly going to receive the above radio, has any member ever dealt with one of these, I have so far got the first three pages of the circuit but most the information is as you would expect in German which doesnt make it that easy to follow, there are I think two more pages available but I am limited on how many I could download, The previous owner cut the mains lead off for some strange reason quoting for safety reasons. more to follow

Ken

[Pfraser]

I've had a mooch around; attached is a schematic from NVHR. It appears complete, to my inexpert eyes.

For translation, do you have a phone app?

[Radio Tech]

No sorry do not have a phone app.

I have in amongst my valves found all but two of them, the double triode the set employs is a ECC85 I wonder if I can use an ECC83 in case I get stuck, the other one is the EM80, nearest I have is the EM87 the one the set employs has quite a different structure

Ken

[Nanozeugma]

Can't say I've ever encountered this model, but in truth it appears to be very conventional and somewhat "basic" for a Saba (no motor tuning, single ended output, single loudspeaker) and a very conventional valve lineup. Couldn't translate the German to English on auto as it is a scanned pdf with no editable text.

[Joe_Lorenz]

Ken,

this is a rather "mainstream" set, no much of gimmicks or so. Please be aware ECC 85 and ECC 83 do have some different characteristics, so I am afraid substitution won't be much of a success. Anyway, it can't be hard to find an ECC 85.

As for that EM 80, it will display a nice shape! I have encountered more gone-high plate and screen resistors (500 k Ohms near Rö 5) than deaf EM 80s by now. Some of "Lorenz" brand may be weak. But this valve is not needed for proper reception, so you can take your time to find another one if necessary.

I cannot quote a source for the schematics in English, but I can offer assistance if you need something translated. Please feel free to ask!

Joe

[Radio Tech]

Thanks for the advice given Joe, have noted everything, I have now the set in my hands but the Ferrite Rod was found loose and floating around inside the cabinet, sadly the connections have been severed so have put a picture of the ferrite rod mount and perhaps someone can advise where the wires go from the coils on the rod, once I get that job done I can work on the rest of the set

Best wishes

Ken

[Radio Tech]

Picture

[Joe_Lorenz]

Hello Ken,

if you find the wires at the ferrite rod long enough to solder this should be no big deal to re-connect it.
First: Have a look at the rod. There should be one coil with few windings and another with many windings. Four wires, connected as a center tap, so we have actually three wires going to the set.
Now please have a look at the schematics. You will locate the ferrite rod at the left side of the schematics, "Ant.1". Here you see which end of the coils has to go where.
Lower connection of the little rod coil: Goes to a resistor of 200 k Ohms and to the selector switch S4, mounted at a brown isolating board at the rear of the chassis. S4 allows to select "Normal antenna" or "Ferrite Antenna". The said wire is connected to the "n" contact point.
Center connection of the rod coils: Goes to the M1 and M2 contact points of the Medium Wave switch.
Upper connection of the rod coils: Goes to contact point "a" of the Medium Wave switch M2 and to a coil.
Below the schematics the illustration "Drucktastenaggregat" shows you the location of the said contact points.

Please try to secure the rod firmly to its base so it can't come loose again.

Kindest regards, Joe

[Radio Tech]

Many Thanks Joe, I will of course make sure the rod is secure, I had some trouble with the tuning cord and eventually managed to sort it out, that wire they used was a bit troublesome as I had to shorten it,I almost used thin cord all the way but now got to also sort out what was shorting on the HT side. will add more as I go,

Ken

[Radio Tech]

Hi Folks

The drive cord I replaced with some very thin nylon cord all the way round, it took 5 feet six inches of cord, the HT was being shorted by that thin wire the manufacturer used for tuning drive. I will have to make a dial pointer as the original had metal fatigue and snapped, most likely a thin brazing rod will do to cut and bend one into shape, the tuning indicator is also the next item to replace, I think this might have been the victim of the HT short caused by that drive tuning wire.

Won't be long now before it's back in the case.

Ken

[Joe_Lorenz]

This is good news, Ken!

If you don't mind please let us see some photo shots before you put it back in the cabinet.

Joe

[Radio Tech]

Hi folks

As you see by the picture, I have replaced the dial cord with a complete length of nylon cord, that wire the manufacture used with the original drive cord was more trouble than it's worth, you will notice that I have still got to put the magic eye tuning indicator in as the socket is unhitched from the chassis., I made the dial pointer out of some stiff wire.

Ken

[Joe_Lorenz]

Hello,

sometimes apparently minor mechanical challenges take more time than bigger electrical issues! You are making good progress!

Regards, Joe