A quick Aurora question - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

EF80TVVALVE · 13th Oct 2013, 7:54 pm

hi, I have lost the power pack to my aurora converter and I have found one that can supply the voltage but it has a rating of 1200mA, I wondered whether this would be okay to use as I don't want to risk damaging my converter!
Thanks!

Brigham · 13th Oct 2013, 8:34 pm

According to the Aurora website it needs 250mA, so a 1200mA should be more than enough. I use the universal Maplin one, which comes with loads of different plugs.
Make sure you set the polarity right, although the converter is said to be protected against reversed feed.

jay_oldstuff · 13th Oct 2013, 10:12 pm

Bigger is fine. I use a cheep and nasty unregulated psu from a market stall with mine with no ill effects whatsoever.

Jay

EF80TVVALVE · 14th Oct 2013, 7:25 pm

Thanks for that! Having turned the aurora on I have no sound through the set. This is with the tone and input, I am quite sure it isn't the set as I can hear rustling when I turn the volume pot and also mobile phone interference, I wondered whether there was a way to reset the aurora or try a method to see if it works again?
Thanks!

Sideband · 14th Oct 2013, 8:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigham

According to the Aurora website it needs 250mA, so a 1200mA should be more than enough.

No problem...I use a 1.2amp rated power supply on mine.

To be absolutely safe, use an in-line fuse rated at 315mA.

Rich

HamishBoxer · 14th Oct 2013, 11:11 pm

Its not the amps that kill ,its the correct voltage that is priority.

pichacker · 15th Oct 2013, 8:17 am

True, but beware of the cheap unregulated wall warts that will output a higher than rated voltage when not heavily loaded. This will cause excessive dissipation in the Aurora.

HamishBoxer · 15th Oct 2013, 12:06 pm

Completely agree,it does need to be correctly regulated and i believe earlier in the forum it was stated they will run cooler on 9 volts.

Decent ones are cheap enough with 1.5--12Volt settings on.

mark pirate · 16th Oct 2013, 12:04 pm

I agree that the Aurora is best run on 9v, I use a 1a regulated psu that I have measured at 10.3v with no load, this drops to 9.6 volts when running the Aurora.

A higher voltage can be used, but will make the Aurora run hotter, which may reduce it's life expectancy.

Mark

Hybrid tellies · 8th Dec 2013, 4:36 pm

I use the PSU from my Pure Evoke2 DAB radio. It's the correct voltage and polarity. The Aurora runs only slightly warm after its been running for hours.

Hybrid tellies · 15th Dec 2013, 4:59 pm

I have just found a cheaper wall wart lying around rated at 300mA with switchable polarity and voltage. I have checked the voltage output and by switching down to 7.5v output it feeds 9.6v into the Aurora which is now running nice and cool

13th Oct 2013, 7:54 pm	#1
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	A quick Aurora question hi, I have lost the power pack to my aurora converter and I have found one that can supply the voltage but it has a rating of 1200mA, I wondered whether this would be okay to use as I don't want to risk damaging my converter! Thanks!

13th Oct 2013, 8:34 pm	#2
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,117	Re: A quick Aurora question According to the Aurora website it needs 250mA, so a 1200mA should be more than enough. I use the universal Maplin one, which comes with loads of different plugs. Make sure you set the polarity right, although the converter is said to be protected against reversed feed.

13th Oct 2013, 10:12 pm	#3
jay_oldstuff Octode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hyde, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,074	Re: A quick Aurora question Bigger is fine. I use a cheep and nasty unregulated psu from a market stall with mine with no ill effects whatsoever. Jay __________________ The light at the end of the tunnel is probably the headlight of an oncoming train

14th Oct 2013, 7:25 pm	#4
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	Re: A quick Aurora question Thanks for that! Having turned the aurora on I have no sound through the set. This is with the tone and input, I am quite sure it isn't the set as I can hear rustling when I turn the volume pot and also mobile phone interference, I wondered whether there was a way to reset the aurora or try a method to see if it works again? Thanks!

14th Oct 2013, 11:11 pm	#6
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: A quick Aurora question Its not the amps that kill ,its the correct voltage that is priority. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

15th Oct 2013, 8:17 am	#7
pichacker Hexode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 370	Re: A quick Aurora question True, but beware of the cheap unregulated wall warts that will output a higher than rated voltage when not heavily loaded. This will cause excessive dissipation in the Aurora. __________________ 6.3v on my heaters is no longer enough to get me going in the morning!!

15th Oct 2013, 12:06 pm	#8
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: A quick Aurora question Completely agree,it does need to be correctly regulated and i believe earlier in the forum it was stated they will run cooler on 9 volts. Decent ones are cheap enough with 1.5--12Volt settings on. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

16th Oct 2013, 12:04 pm	#9
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: A quick Aurora question I agree that the Aurora is best run on 9v, I use a 1a regulated psu that I have measured at 10.3v with no load, this drops to 9.6 volts when running the Aurora. A higher voltage can be used, but will make the Aurora run hotter, which may reduce it's life expectancy. Mark

8th Dec 2013, 4:36 pm	#10
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: A quick Aurora question I use the PSU from my Pure Evoke2 DAB radio. It's the correct voltage and polarity. The Aurora runs only slightly warm after its been running for hours. __________________ Simon BVWS member

15th Dec 2013, 4:59 pm	#11
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: A quick Aurora question I have just found a cheaper wall wart lying around rated at 300mA with switchable polarity and voltage. I have checked the voltage output and by switching down to 7.5v output it feeds 9.6v into the Aurora which is now running nice and cool __________________ Simon BVWS member