Thorn Automation P5040 - connectors!

[Blackwood]

Greetings to all from a newbie!

I start by apologising for asking such a stupid question….but could someone confirm the make/type of power connectors this beast of a PSU uses? Better still where I can purchase them, new or used? I have not seen anything like these chassis sockets and I am eager to power this beast up to see if it can be restored.

Thanking you in anticipation.

[Cobaltblue]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

In situations like this a picture is worth a thousand words.

Cheers

Mike T

[Blackwood]

Thank you, photos to follow when I return home in a day or two…. I was hopeful that someone may know what they were from the model number P5040 to get a head start 😊

Best
David

[Cobaltblue]

If this is a PS5040 there was an earlier thread:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=144933

I snipped a couple of these pictures from the manual linked in the thread above.

Is this the correct item?

Cheers

Mike T

[stevehertz]

Pilotmariner should know the answer to this one. We both worked at Thorn EMI, I worked in test department and tested just one about 40 years ago, so my recall is zero I'm afraid. I think Mark (pilotmariner) may have commissioned some. Btw, they sold in their thousands to the military and others. Thorn Automation has changed hands a couple of times since then, but I feel the new company will be able to help with a schematic and maybe even a manual. I'll see if I can find out the present name of the company. They've always been pretty good at providing support for earlier products.

There you go: https://www.ultra.group/us/contact/l...ns/uk/rugeley/

[Cobaltblue]

Originally Posted by stevehertz

but I feel the new company will be able to help with a schematic and maybe even a manual. I'll see if I can find out the present name of the company. They've always been pretty good at providing support for earlier products.

The full handbook is linked to in the thread I linked to earlier:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/13897200@N03/

Of course if its a different unit your suggestion would still be a good lead.

Cheers

Mike T

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

The full handbook is linked to in the thread I linked to earlier:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/13897200@N03/

Of course if its a different unit your suggestion would still be a good lead.

Cheers

Mike T

Thanks Mike. They may even have spare parts.

[Blackwood]

Outstanding chaps, thank you. Mike, yes this is the correct picture of the plug and socket that I require. I will reach out and see what is available, thank you again.

David

[Chris55000]

It might be worth asking Ultra if they can supply a copy of pages 28 and 29 (Firing Pulse Circuit Description) of the PS 5040 Manual, then there'll be everything available for me to republish the content available from the other thread linked in an earlier post in a new book with new drawings, once I've got everything I need, I will make a document with an overall large circuit diagram and interconnection diagram!

(I would like to document all the wiring colours, tagboard layouts, PCB layouts, socket wiring, etc., etc., but at 52 kg, one of these instruments is far too large and heavy for me to handle, so buying one myself in order to reverse–engineer it is out of the question!)

Chris Williams

[wave solder]

When I tried to obtain documentation some years ago I was told that they didn't have any information available.

[Chris55000]

I'll keep an eye open – it's even possible my employer might have some – I've been signed off for over two years by my H.R. due to eye–trouble but I might be going back before too long!

Chris Williams

[Pilot Mariner]

From memory I think the connectors were probably the ubiquitous Plessey pattern 105 or 608 type used on a wide range of equipment at that time.
I remember testing several of these in the early 80s during my period of training at Thorn Automation.



Mark

[Sean Williams]

They are Plessey Mk 7 connectors.

FC Lane may still have some in old stock, but prepare for a shock on pricing!

eBay - search for Clansman power unit connectors, or electronic repair body - these 5050 PSUs were used in that sort of situation.

The connectors turn up from time to time at radio rallies - took me three years to find them for mine.