UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Other Discussions > Homebrew Equipment

Notices

Homebrew Equipment A place to show, design and discuss the weird and wonderful electronic creations from the hands of individual members.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 1st Jun 2020, 9:51 am   #1
davidw
Heptode
 
davidw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 641
Default I built a radio just for fun.

It all started when I was sorting the garage out (being shielded I got bored enough to take it on!) and amongst the "stuff" were some metal pattress boxes. Too good to throw out I thought!
A quick check showed that a B7G valve base fits the knockout holes, game on.
A look through "Radio" by Edwin Bradley took me back in time and a plan evolved.
The result a one valve regen (page 38 of the 1965 edition) from all salvaged parts and a few hours of enjoyable time.
I'd forgotten how sensitive these little circuits can be,it happily copes with dragging Radio5 out without being swamped by Caroline (I'm about 10 miles as the waves go from the Caroline transmitter)
I may move on to 2 valves, the SW receiver in May'65 PE which I first built back then.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1459.jpg
Views:	397
Size:	51.6 KB
ID:	207346   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1460.jpg
Views:	373
Size:	56.3 KB
ID:	207347   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1461.jpg
Views:	386
Size:	41.2 KB
ID:	207348   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1462.jpg
Views:	439
Size:	72.5 KB
ID:	207349   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1463.jpg
Views:	454
Size:	77.7 KB
ID:	207350  

__________________
Dave G1AGK.
My perception is my reality!

Last edited by davidw; 1st Jun 2020 at 9:56 am. Reason: Grammar
davidw is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 10:37 am   #2
vinrads
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,737
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Excellent , now I know why I was saving the twin back boxes from my house wiring days, it paid a lot more than repairing t/v's . Mick.
vinrads is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 10:41 am   #3
Bazz4CQJ
Dekatron
 
Bazz4CQJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,924
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Please take this the right way - that looks like a fairly stress-free project and I find I am increasingly seeking to find projects that are stress-free.

This is a hobby that get a bit too complex sometimes and I no longer find that attractive. I definitely think my preferred homebrew projects are the ones that work the first time they are switched on . Maybe I should stick to assembling kits?

B
__________________
Saturn V had 6 million pounds of fuel. It would take thirty thousand strong men to lift it an inch.
Bazz4CQJ is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 11:10 am   #4
retailer
Heptode
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 541
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Good work - A one valve regen is something I've always wanted to make, as a preteen I had a go at a superhet, no easy feat using a plumbers soldering iron heated on the kitchen gas ring, needless to say it didn't work, I had to eventually settle for a crystal set which work fabulously.
retailer is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 3:41 pm   #5
Aub
Nonode
 
Aub's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 2,034
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

What a lovely little project. Satisfaction from such simplicity. Well done.

Aub
__________________
Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.
Aub is online now  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 3:59 pm   #6
G6Tanuki
Dekatron
 
G6Tanuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,953
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Nice and satisfying in its elegant simplicity! Those metal pattress-boxes have multiple uses; you can easily squeeze a second B7G valve and a small output-transformer into the double-width ones to make a little audio-amp (EF91/6AQ5 in my case).

If you want something a bit prettier, the 'metalclad' surface-mount boxes could be worth a look: you can even get undrilled blanking-plates to serve as a cover for the bottom.
G6Tanuki is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 4:03 pm   #7
davidw
Heptode
 
davidw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 641
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Thanks for the kind words gents..yes it was very therapeutic ,a little bit of head scratching ,a bit of metal bashing, and I got the pop rivet gun out for the first time in years.
I never thought about getting the gas heated iron out although I still have some.
It didn't work first time I had the feedback winding reversed!
__________________
Dave G1AGK.
My perception is my reality!
davidw is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 4:08 pm   #8
MurphyNut
Heptode
 
MurphyNut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Very clever, the next stage is to make a nice little case to mount it in!
__________________
Clive
MurphyNut is online now  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 4:42 pm   #9
Petedox
Pentode
 
Petedox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 200
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Quote:
Originally Posted by davidw View Post
A quick check showed that a B7G valve base fits the knockout holes, game on.
That would never have crossed my mind. Brilliant idea!
__________________
Pete
BVWS Member
Petedox is online now  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 6:16 pm   #10
llama
Octode
 
llama's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,482
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Any chance of a scan of that circuit, please?
Graham
__________________
Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!
llama is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2020, 8:56 pm   #11
JohnBG8JMB
Pentode
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Poole, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 129
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

The other useful cheap [at least, they used to be] boxes are electricians adaptable metal boxes, complete with knockouts, and a relatively thin front panelsizes afair from 4x2" upwards

eg
http://www.toolstation.com/metal-box...ck-outs/p91938

johnb g8jmb
JohnBG8JMB is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2020, 10:20 am   #12
davidw
Heptode
 
davidw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 641
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Quote:
Originally Posted by llama View Post
Any chance of a scan of that circuit, please?
Graham
Certainly Graham
I used all salvaged components..the coil is unknown but I added turns to make 200microH (ish!) for the MW tuned coil the others measured 1500 and 2600 and I used the 1500 one as the feedback. The other is currently unused ,I plan to try and get it to tune LW.
Its all very much "suck it and see" buts its fun and relaxing just to play!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1 Valve 1.jpg
Views:	257
Size:	72.3 KB
ID:	207461   Click image for larger version

Name:	1 Valve 2.jpg
Views:	172
Size:	94.8 KB
ID:	207462  
__________________
Dave G1AGK.
My perception is my reality!
davidw is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2020, 2:47 pm   #13
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Mr Camm would have approved.
AC/HL is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2020, 4:45 pm   #14
Sean Williams
Dekatron
 
Sean Williams's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW
Posts: 3,517
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

That looks very EF91 worthy - I've had a couple of TRF coils laying around for ages.... maybe at the weekend.
__________________
Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished
Sean Williams is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 8:57 am   #15
davidw
Heptode
 
davidw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 641
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

If you use a similar "chassis" to mine Sean a B9A base will fit the holes.
__________________
Dave G1AGK.
My perception is my reality!
davidw is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 9:05 am   #16
kalee20
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,061
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AC/HL View Post
Mr Camm would have approved.
He certainly would!

Super job! And thanks for the circuit, too.
kalee20 is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 11:33 am   #17
Karen O
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 787
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Your use of a back box as a valve chassis is inspirational!
Karen O is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 12:03 pm   #18
dominicbeesley
Octode
 
dominicbeesley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,885
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Certainly is - another excuse for a bit of skip-diving!
dominicbeesley is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 12:48 pm   #19
PJL
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 5,997
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

The use of back boxes is just brilliant. You could go back to the 1920's and use single gang boxes and put a stage in each box.
PJL is offline  
Old 4th Jun 2020, 2:04 pm   #20
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: I built a radio just for fun.

Quote:
You could go back to the 1920's and use single gang boxes and put a stage in each box.
And join them with sleeves and those brass screw things (the stuff conduit uses).
 
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:05 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.