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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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27th Apr 2022, 2:20 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 713
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RA17 gone bang
l turned on my Racal RA17 last week and after a few minutes working normally there was a fairly loud bang from inside the cabinet followed by a quantity of smoke.
Short of sabotage by the Russians, what should l be looking for? l took the top cover off but everything is inside metal cans, all you can see is the valves really. The radio is now dead. l assume it's blown a fuse somewhere, it's gone back into the spare room in disgrace along with the dusty "that looks a good idea" jogging machine and cheap electric bike that won't charge. |
27th Apr 2022, 2:36 pm | #2 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 446
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Re: RA17 gone bang
The HT smoothing capacitor C198 and C206 is good candidate. Mounted horizontally under the chassis. If not there is a good chance there will be some other visible evidence.
Don m5aky |
27th Apr 2022, 2:46 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,966
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Re: RA17 gone bang
If the smoother has gone bang it will have blown the end out - it should be very obvious. There may be gunk all over the place too.
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27th Apr 2022, 3:08 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: RA17 gone bang
Mains suppression cap across the mains input ?
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27th Apr 2022, 3:13 pm | #5 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: RA17 gone bang
I wouldn't delay. The guck from exploded or leaky capacitors can be corrosive. It'll be a smaller job done sooner rather than later.
David
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27th Apr 2022, 3:56 pm | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 713
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Re: RA17 gone bang
Thank you for the advice.
l'll get on to it this evening. |
2nd May 2022, 9:29 am | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 559
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Re: RA17 gone bang
Hello and good morning Do you have a up date and some photos.
Thank You. Kevin. |
2nd May 2022, 10:14 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 1,002
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Re: RA17 gone bang
That stuff can be a nightmare to remove in nooks and crannies- might be worth using a compressor if need be, before it dry's too.
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4th May 2022, 2:47 am | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA.
Posts: 664
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Re: RA17 gone bang
If those caps under the chassis blew up, there is a good chance any other caps by the same mfgr. are going bad also. Might as well replace them while you are in the set.
it will save heartache at a later date. |
4th May 2022, 10:13 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,991
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Re: RA17 gone bang
The main smoother is a dual Plessey unit. These are usually exceptionally reliable.
It depends on how much restoration has been done - if nothing, prime candidates are umpteen Hunts paper capacitors which can be anything from OK, to short or open circuit. Or a valve has gone west. It could be the GZ34 rectifier gone pop or shorted. Send some close up pics, and we'll have a good look. Consider joining the Racal RA17 groups on .io Craig
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