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Old 16th May 2022, 3:07 pm   #1
Chrissywissy
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Default EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Hi All

I have recently become the owner of an Eddystone 840c receiver and I am searching for a mains lead or just a plug. This is a live chassis radio and it has an unusual connector with two pins, one being larger than the other. Just wondering if anyone has one available? I am trying to keep the set as original as possible!

Thanks and regards

Chris G4RBR
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Old 16th May 2022, 3:13 pm   #2
Restoration73
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

It is worth noting the actual metal case is earthed, the 2 pin cable socket has a central
metal strip retained by screw/nut holding the plug together that make the earth contact.

I have used a 2 pin 5A cable socket, I inserted a brass spacer in one connector to
accept the smaller diameter pin.
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Old 16th May 2022, 3:16 pm   #3
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Good luck with your search. These seem to be rarer than rocking horse droppings. If you should find a source I would be interested as I have been looking unsuccessfully for eons.
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Old 16th May 2022, 3:53 pm   #4
HamishBoxer
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

These are on eBay but not cheap. Or were as I see none at present.
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Old 16th May 2022, 4:45 pm   #5
Chrissywissy
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. The search continues!

Chris
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Old 16th May 2022, 7:10 pm   #6
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Just a warning here. I went the eBay route and found that what I had bought was a standard 2pin+earth connector, the two pins being of equal diameter. So it would be a good idea to check before buying.
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Old 16th May 2022, 7:33 pm   #7
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

That free socket reminds me of the old BS546 5-amp 2-pin ones used to hook up things like christmas-tree lights or as a 'disconnect' on the drop-lead from the ceiling-rose to a chandelier so your housekeeper could unplug the chandelier and bring it down to ground-level for dusting.

On my 840A, I removed the odd 2-pin plug and bored the hole out to take a 'modern' Bulgin 3-pin miniature.

OK, it's not original, but it's the sort-of 'period' modification a typical amateur-radio/SWL-type would have done in the 60s/70s. And it works.

[I value function over originality].
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Old 16th May 2022, 8:12 pm   #8
g4aaw pete
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Fully agree with the sentiments of this.
I nearly always fit an IEC socket in these situations.
Another option is the clover-leaf (C6) type.
Life's too short to spend time looking for unobtainable plug / sockets.
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Old 16th May 2022, 8:45 pm   #9
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

The contact provided by the open, single-sided earth tab in the original connector is somewhat "incidental" in nature anyway- not something I'd be confident about in a metal-cased radio with a PSU arrangement of this nature. I fitted the 670A here with an IEC C14 ("kettle") inlet. No guilt pangs here, whilst preserving the character of vintage items is nice, if they're to be put into service then safety considerations always get priority.
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Old 17th May 2022, 12:05 am   #10
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Going back 40 years, they were fairly common around here and the pacific islands known as "Jug Leads" - the jugs themselves were ceramic glazed with a lid - you couldn't get the lead plugged in unless the lid was firmly closed. The heating element was a bare metal resistance winding actually immersed in the water - how much dissolved chemicals we drank with our tea doesn't bear thinking about - and the hydrogen produced.....

The Eddystone 680x's that I used to work on in the 70's had those plugs but I don't remember them have unequal pin/socket diameters.

I think these jugs were made in Australia - since we started importing all sorts of electrical goods everything is either hard wired or has the IEC connector - thank goodness!
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Old 17th May 2022, 12:24 am   #11
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Leave as original is what I always say, and if you want to modernise something then go and buy something modern instead. If you're worried about the safety aspect then run it from an isolation transformer.
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Old 17th May 2022, 7:26 am   #12
barrymagrec
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Was that small pin / large pin arrangement similar to that used on Ferguson TVs back in the fifties? No earth on a live chassis TV of course.
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Old 17th May 2022, 1:03 pm   #13
David G4EBT
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

It might be worth putting a 'wanted' advert on the Eddystone User Group site:

https://eddystoneusergroup.org.uk/category/wanted/

You'll also find an 840C manual there to download of you don't have it, and an A3 sized circuit, plus lots of restorations, fault diagnosis etc.

As to whether to retain the mains input socket or upgrade it, much depends on how highly you rank originality of safety-related non-cosmetic items on a radio that went into production in 1961. On any radio, I rank safety first, functionality second, and originality last. I know this is a 'wanted' thread - not a request for advice about other options, but I don't like that earthing spring idea so if an 840C plug doesn't turn up, I'd opt for an IEC socket and plug.

Good luck in your quest Chris.
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Old 17th May 2022, 9:49 pm   #14
Chrissywissy
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Default Re: EDDYSTONE 840c MAINS CONNECTOR SOUGHT

Thanks David and everyone.

You are all so kind for sending your helpful comments. Looking forward to getting the set on the bench!

Regards

Chris
G4RBR
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