Aircraft compass unit E124 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

FERNSEH · 18th Feb 2021, 4:17 pm

Friend Kevin acquired this unit with the intent of making a TV set from it.
No can do because the CV5164 CRT requires a very high EHT, >20KV.
Google search reveals the E124 was made by Ekco Electronics Ltd and was used in the Bristol Britannia aircraft.

CV5164 = MM31-10.
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/129/m/MM13-10.pdf

DFWB.

Julesomega · 18th Feb 2021, 5:36 pm

Surely the EHT would be generated in the unit? Wouldn't make much sense to generate it externally
More pics please!

M0FYA Andy · 18th Feb 2021, 5:57 pm

Compass Unit? I think that is probably part of the Ekco weather radar.

Andy

ms660 · 18th Feb 2021, 7:58 pm

Apparently it had to be mounted at least 2'9" from a compass.

Lawrence.

FERNSEH · 18th Feb 2021, 9:25 pm

Extract from the advert for the unit:
Compass Indicator E124 by Ekco Electronics England. . Compass Indicator E124 by Ekco Electronics England for parts or restoration. Condition is "For parts or not working". I assume this is from an aircraft cockpit display? It may come from a DH Comet. Not sure of era or anything else, possibly 1950 to 1970s? Not working, sold for parts or restoration. Condition: For parts or not working,
Julesomega wrote:
"Surely the EHT would be generated in the unit? Wouldn't make much sense to generate it externally
More pics please!"
EHT is supplied from an external source. Will take more pictures of the unit tomorrow.

DFWB.

M0FYA Andy · 18th Feb 2021, 10:38 pm

I believe that display unit is shown as a component of the Ekco E-120 weather radar system shown in this link -
https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kart...rte076.en.html
Unfortunately detailed information on the Ekco radars is notoriously sparse on the internet.
I suspect the seller of the unit didn't know what it was.
A lot of avionic equipment is marked with a 'Compass Safe Distance', this is a minimum distance to avoid disturbing the operation of a compass sensor.

Andy

majoconz · 19th Feb 2021, 1:01 am

DH4C cockpit panel assembly. The compass and ADF display are clearly shown on the captains panel to the bottom left of the "T" below the 'rate of climb' instrument. The co-pilots compass is hiding behind the left hand side of his control column. The weather radar display is in front of the captain's right knee. It looks like the panels have been 'ratted' for some other aircraft.
Most passenger aircraft are left hand drive.

FERNSEH · 19th Feb 2021, 9:00 pm

Three more pictures of the E124 unit.
The one and only valve present in the unit is a CV4014 (EF91/6AM6)
The EHT connection on the CRT resembles that on the MW6-2 projection TV tube.

DFWB.

Peter F4VSA · 19th Feb 2021, 10:31 pm

I would not have thought getting 20kV is very difficult these days, plenty of units available from China. I doubt that they are very stable but it might get the unt working. I hve half a dozen 5kV supplies from old CRT based units that were scrapped

Peter F4VSA

Lloyd 1985 · 19th Feb 2021, 11:41 pm

Someone posted a link to an EHT generator a while back, I think it’s still in my watch list, it was only a couple of quid and generated 15KV. Might be worth a look?

Regards
Lloyd

18th Feb 2021, 4:17 pm	#1
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Aircraft compass unit E124 Friend Kevin acquired this unit with the intent of making a TV set from it. No can do because the CV5164 CRT requires a very high EHT, >20KV. Google search reveals the E124 was made by Ekco Electronics Ltd and was used in the Bristol Britannia aircraft. CV5164 = MM31-10. https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/129/m/MM13-10.pdf DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

18th Feb 2021, 5:36 pm	#2
Julesomega Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 2,106	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Surely the EHT would be generated in the unit? Wouldn't make much sense to generate it externally More pics please! __________________ - Julian It's good here

18th Feb 2021, 5:57 pm	#3
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Compass Unit? I think that is probably part of the Ekco weather radar. Andy

18th Feb 2021, 7:58 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Apparently it had to be mounted at least 2'9" from a compass. Lawrence.

18th Feb 2021, 9:25 pm	#5
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Extract from the advert for the unit: Compass Indicator E124 by Ekco Electronics England. . Compass Indicator E124 by Ekco Electronics England for parts or restoration. Condition is "For parts or not working". I assume this is from an aircraft cockpit display? It may come from a DH Comet. Not sure of era or anything else, possibly 1950 to 1970s? Not working, sold for parts or restoration. Condition: For parts or not working, Julesomega wrote: "Surely the EHT would be generated in the unit? Wouldn't make much sense to generate it externally More pics please!" EHT is supplied from an external source. Will take more pictures of the unit tomorrow. DFWB.

18th Feb 2021, 10:38 pm	#6
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 I believe that display unit is shown as a component of the Ekco E-120 weather radar system shown in this link - https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kart...rte076.en.html Unfortunately detailed information on the Ekco radars is notoriously sparse on the internet. I suspect the seller of the unit didn't know what it was. A lot of avionic equipment is marked with a 'Compass Safe Distance', this is a minimum distance to avoid disturbing the operation of a compass sensor. Andy

19th Feb 2021, 1:01 am	#7
majoconz Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ashhurst, Manawatu, New Zealand Posts: 571	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 DH4C cockpit panel assembly. The compass and ADF display are clearly shown on the captains panel to the bottom left of the "T" below the 'rate of climb' instrument. The co-pilots compass is hiding behind the left hand side of his control column. The weather radar display is in front of the captain's right knee. It looks like the panels have been 'ratted' for some other aircraft. Most passenger aircraft are left hand drive. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers - Martin ZL2MC

19th Feb 2021, 9:00 pm	#8
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Three more pictures of the E124 unit. The one and only valve present in the unit is a CV4014 (EF91/6AM6) The EHT connection on the CRT resembles that on the MW6-2 projection TV tube. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

19th Feb 2021, 10:31 pm	#9
Peter F4VSA Tetrode Join Date: May 2019 Location: Limoges, France. Posts: 60	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 I would not have thought getting 20kV is very difficult these days, plenty of units available from China. I doubt that they are very stable but it might get the unt working. I hve half a dozen 5kV supplies from old CRT based units that were scrapped Peter F4VSA

19th Feb 2021, 11:41 pm	#10
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Aircraft compass unit E124 Someone posted a link to an EHT generator a while back, I think it’s still in my watch list, it was only a couple of quid and generated 15KV. Might be worth a look? Regards Lloyd