Philips V5A - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G0HFCFrank · 10th Oct 2019, 5:50 pm

Hi Folks,
I'm going through a Philips V5A, re-capping as I go and have come to the band-pass capacitors, C4 (0.016MFD) and C5 (0.025MFD) on the Trader service sheet. As there are no dc voltages in this area I'm tempted to leave the originals in. Should it be necessary to change them what values should I sub for them? I'm thinking 0.01 and 0.022 or are the originals more critical than that? Any thoughts please?
Frank C.

Nuvistor · 10th Oct 2019, 6:31 pm

C4 perhaps 0.015ufd

mister valve · 11th Oct 2019, 6:51 pm

I am intrigued to know the best way to restore one of these sets as I also have one unrestored. As readers and restorers will know, the 'works' are strung around the cabinet in, (what looks at first sight, but really isn't), a chaotic manner. Is it best to take the whole 'works' out of the cabinet, do the necessary, then put it all back in the cabinet again ? I welcome any comments especially from anyone who has been brave enough to restore one of these "Philips Theatrettes"

Tractionist · 11th Oct 2019, 8:52 pm

Well ..... obviously you have to take the plywood base out [and usually treat the woodworm] - then it's simply a case of working point-to-point. Obviously the speaker needs to be removed in order to launder and/or re-manufacture a bag. The silk speaker cloth needs to come out and be cleaned or changed too. Close attention must be paid to all the tuning gang and cord drive arrangements too [cleaning/careful lubrication etc.] .... because it's one of those mad arrangements which frequently 'de-rail'.

To my mind, the worst part is dealing with all the pitch caps, performing a lot of re-wiring, and taking valve base voltages.

However - these sets are pretty good performers - and sound great.

Get stuck in!

G0HFCFrank · 12th Oct 2019, 2:54 pm

Nuvistor, Yes, thanks, of course 0.015MFD (I must have an intermittent brain fault).
Mr Valve, I'm part way through restoring mine and it's not too horrendous. So far I've taken out the PSU as Tractionist suggests and have re-strung the dial mechanism. The dial pulleys mount on metal sleeves, slightly longer than the pulley is wide and this permits the mounting screws to be tightened without pinching the pulleys. Once these are freed off it all works fine. I'm only replacing wires as required as whilst some have crumbled a lot of the rubber coverings are fine. All the black caps are going but the reservoir and soothing caps will be retained in situe for the look of the thing.

Frank C.

10th Oct 2019, 5:50 pm	#1
G0HFCFrank Pentode Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 167	Philips V5A Hi Folks, I'm going through a Philips V5A, re-capping as I go and have come to the band-pass capacitors, C4 (0.016MFD) and C5 (0.025MFD) on the Trader service sheet. As there are no dc voltages in this area I'm tempted to leave the originals in. Should it be necessary to change them what values should I sub for them? I'm thinking 0.01 and 0.022 or are the originals more critical than that? Any thoughts please? Frank C.

10th Oct 2019, 6:31 pm	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Philips V5A C4 perhaps 0.015ufd __________________ Frank

11th Oct 2019, 6:51 pm	#3
mister valve Hexode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 311	Re: Philips V5A I am intrigued to know the best way to restore one of these sets as I also have one unrestored. As readers and restorers will know, the 'works' are strung around the cabinet in, (what looks at first sight, but really isn't), a chaotic manner. Is it best to take the whole 'works' out of the cabinet, do the necessary, then put it all back in the cabinet again ? I welcome any comments especially from anyone who has been brave enough to restore one of these "Philips Theatrettes" __________________ If you live, the chassis was dead; if you're dead, the chassis was live !!!!

11th Oct 2019, 8:52 pm	#4
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 875	Re: Philips V5A Well ..... obviously you have to take the plywood base out [and usually treat the woodworm] - then it's simply a case of working point-to-point. Obviously the speaker needs to be removed in order to launder and/or re-manufacture a bag. The silk speaker cloth needs to come out and be cleaned or changed too. Close attention must be paid to all the tuning gang and cord drive arrangements too [cleaning/careful lubrication etc.] .... because it's one of those mad arrangements which frequently 'de-rail'. To my mind, the worst part is dealing with all the pitch caps, performing a lot of re-wiring, and taking valve base voltages. However - these sets are pretty good performers - and sound great. Get stuck in! __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

12th Oct 2019, 2:54 pm	#5
G0HFCFrank Pentode Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 167	Re: Philips V5A Nuvistor, Yes, thanks, of course 0.015MFD (I must have an intermittent brain fault). Mr Valve, I'm part way through restoring mine and it's not too horrendous. So far I've taken out the PSU as Tractionist suggests and have re-strung the dial mechanism. The dial pulleys mount on metal sleeves, slightly longer than the pulley is wide and this permits the mounting screws to be tightened without pinching the pulleys. Once these are freed off it all works fine. I'm only replacing wires as required as whilst some have crumbled a lot of the rubber coverings are fine. All the black caps are going but the reservoir and soothing caps will be retained in situe for the look of the thing. Frank C.