Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Boater Sam · 2nd May 2018, 9:26 pm

Acquired an Ekco A355. What a horrible set, layout is crazy, trimmers in the centre of the chassis, nasty construction. Piano switches. the off switch has been bypassed as it has lost its contact wafer.

It was deaf on inspection. no gram so audio off. EL84 working, triode of EABC80 dead. Its a very new looking Pinnacle but no heater.

Replacing it the set works but badly. All the stations on MW. LW and FM miles out of step with the tuning scale.
Full alignment sorted that out. Don't know why I bothered to fix it but I just enjoy fixing things.

Now I looked at the duff valve, there are 3 heaters and I always thought they were in parallel but not sure, its very clean and new but completely O/C filaments.
I know that the parentage of Pinnacle valves is doubtful but I have found them usually OK.

Discuss.

ms660 · 2nd May 2018, 9:39 pm

Heaters are series so far as I know, makes sense for UABC80 100mA heater current.

Lawrence.

Nuvistor · 2nd May 2018, 9:46 pm

Philips specification of an EABC80 shows the heaters in series. 6.3v 480ma.

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/eabc80.pdf

Edit.
Pinnacle valves were on the whole OK when I was using them in the second half of the 70’s, the major manufacturers were importing lots of valves from various countries.

Boater Sam · 2nd May 2018, 10:26 pm

EABC80 Lawrence, I was thinking 3 filaments @160mA each 6.3v in parallel

cathoderay57 · 3rd May 2018, 8:00 am

eBay has 10 EABC80 for £99. If you have that sort of money to spend, you could fix another 9 Ekco A355s......

Boater Sam · 3rd May 2018, 8:49 am

I would not wish to do so thank you. I've enough EABC8s for my needs.

G8HQP Dave · 3rd May 2018, 12:11 pm

Whether the heaters are series or parallel might depend on manufacturer.

My perception is that Pinnacle valves were generally better than some other importers/rebranders; often surplus stock from Western Europe or the better Eastern bloc makers. Some others just rebranded whatever they could get their hands on from anywhere which happened to have the same pinout and roughly similar characteristics.

ms660 · 3rd May 2018, 12:41 pm

There's a foreign Mullard one here, it shows series connected:

http://www.r-type.org/exhib/abc0014.htm

Series connected makes sense from a manufacturing point of view, same base assembly for E, U and P type.

Lawrence.

Skywave · 3rd May 2018, 10:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

Acquired an Ekco A355. What a horrible set: layout is crazy; trimmers in the centre of the chassis; nasty construction . . . etc.
Don't know why I bothered to fix it - but I just enjoy fixing things.

Hi! Re: the last sentence above. A sentiment of a true enthusiast, which I am sure is shared by many members here.

Al.

2nd May 2018, 9:26 pm	#1
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio Acquired an Ekco A355. What a horrible set, layout is crazy, trimmers in the centre of the chassis, nasty construction. Piano switches. the off switch has been bypassed as it has lost its contact wafer. It was deaf on inspection. no gram so audio off. EL84 working, triode of EABC80 dead. Its a very new looking Pinnacle but no heater. Replacing it the set works but badly. All the stations on MW. LW and FM miles out of step with the tuning scale. Full alignment sorted that out. Don't know why I bothered to fix it but I just enjoy fixing things. Now I looked at the duff valve, there are 3 heaters and I always thought they were in parallel but not sure, its very clean and new but completely O/C filaments. I know that the parentage of Pinnacle valves is doubtful but I have found them usually OK. Discuss.

2nd May 2018, 9:39 pm	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio Heaters are series so far as I know, makes sense for UABC80 100mA heater current. Lawrence.

2nd May 2018, 9:46 pm	#3
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio Philips specification of an EABC80 shows the heaters in series. 6.3v 480ma. http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/eabc80.pdf Edit. Pinnacle valves were on the whole OK when I was using them in the second half of the 70’s, the major manufacturers were importing lots of valves from various countries. __________________ Frank

2nd May 2018, 10:26 pm	#4
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio EABC80 Lawrence, I was thinking 3 filaments @160mA each 6.3v in parallel

3rd May 2018, 8:00 am	#5
cathoderay57 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,389	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio eBay has 10 EABC80 for £99. If you have that sort of money to spend, you could fix another 9 Ekco A355s......

3rd May 2018, 8:49 am	#6
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio I would not wish to do so thank you. I've enough EABC8s for my needs.

3rd May 2018, 12:11 pm	#7
G8HQP Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 4,872	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio Whether the heaters are series or parallel might depend on manufacturer. My perception is that Pinnacle valves were generally better than some other importers/rebranders; often surplus stock from Western Europe or the better Eastern bloc makers. Some others just rebranded whatever they could get their hands on from anywhere which happened to have the same pinout and roughly similar characteristics.

3rd May 2018, 12:41 pm	#8
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Death of EABC80 in 'orrible radio There's a foreign Mullard one here, it shows series connected: http://www.r-type.org/exhib/abc0014.htm Series connected makes sense from a manufacturing point of view, same base assembly for E, U and P type. Lawrence.