Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Mouser has them individually but you can also get a 5-pack:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Littelfuse/0313.600MXP?qs=rkYlxpo0zrH8phPYUSt1bg%3D%3D
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
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Rather than spending time trying to reinvent the wheel, have any of you installed 16 AWG SJT power cords into an AC-4 using the correct strain relief?? I understand that this will involve enlarging the hole in the AC-4 but I'm done with Dremeling strain reliefs to get them to work with round cables.? Too much time and I have a few AC-4's that need at least an updated AC cord.
Yes, 16 AWG is smaller than factory 14AWG 2-conductor but a 5A continuous load is fine with a 16 AWG cord.
It's more important, at this point, to have a safety ground for the power supply.
What size relief and what size hole?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
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Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items
I was thinking the meter may be from one of their 2m mobiles but have no idea which.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 10:14 AM, VE7PS via groups.io <ve7ps@...> wrote:
The 2nd pic was an optional rear panel for the TR-4 (and possibly the TR-6?) that facilitated hooking up the TC-6 and/or TC-2 transverters. I have a TR-4 with one on it.?
The surge protector is what it is. Drake model 1549 as shown.?
Don¡¯t think the meter is Drake. Doesn¡¯t ring any bells with me.
73 PS On May 23, 2025, at 1:12?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? Barry's correct on the first one.? The second one looks like a rear upper panel for a TR-4C
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).
Barry - N4BUQ
Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
<20250523_102224.jpg> <20250523_102235.jpg> <20250523_102252.jpg> <20250523_102305.jpg> --
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
They need a bit of air space round them just like any power resistor. See /g/DRAKE-RADIO/files/TR-7/PS7-Inrush.pdf for examples. On Sat, 24 May 2025 10:56:29 -0400 "John K5MO via groups.io" <johnk5mo@...> wrote: Do you do just mount them under the chassis away from things like
electrolytics, etc? I know they are hot when they're running.
John K5MO
On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 10:18?AM Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C=
[email protected]> wrote:
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies.
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
Do you do just mount them under the chassis away from things like electrolytics,? etc? I know they are hot when they're running.?
John K5MO
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies.
On Fri, 23 May 2025 22:52:04 -0700
"Steve KL7JT via " <radiorobots=[email protected]> wrote:
> I have used CL-70, 80, and 90 in various pieces of gear to limit inrush, with good result.
>
> For AC-4 I used either CL-80 or CL-90; YMMV.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies. On Fri, 23 May 2025 22:52:04 -0700 "Steve KL7JT via groups.io" <radiorobots@...> wrote: I have used CL-70, 80, and 90 in various pieces of gear to limit inrush, with good result.
For AC-4 I used either CL-80 or CL-90; YMMV. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items
The 2nd pic was an optional rear panel for the TR-4 (and possibly the TR-6?) that facilitated hooking up the TC-6 and/or TC-2 transverters. I have a TR-4 with one on it.?
The surge protector is what it is. Drake model 1549 as shown.?
Don¡¯t think the meter is Drake. Doesn¡¯t ring any bells with me.
73 PS
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 23, 2025, at 1:12?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? Barry's correct on the first one.? The second one looks like a rear upper panel for a TR-4C
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).
Barry - N4BUQ
Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
<20250523_102224.jpg> <20250523_102235.jpg> <20250523_102252.jpg> <20250523_102305.jpg> --
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
?"I decided that it probably wasn't a good
idea to keep a bomb in the shack."
Good decision!
John
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Ralph,
The R4B has MUTE, ANT and 4 ohm SPKR connections on theR4B's rear
chassis as shown in
the picture below. Simply substitute the R4B for the "External
receiver" shown on page 2-7
Figure 2-9 in the TR4C manual.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/23/25 9:32 PM, Ralph AD9FM via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thanks Mike I must have missed that in the manual.?
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
Ralph,
If you are asking if an R4B can be used as a separate receiver
with the
TR4C then the answer is yes.
Connect the R4B Antenna and ground to the TR4C rear "External
Receiver Antenna"
socket and the R4B Mute and ground terminals to the TR4C rear
"External Receiver
Mute" socket.
To use the R4B as the receiver with the TR4C, set the Left side
"RCVR/TRCVR switch
to "RCVR". The R4B will be the receiver.
To revert the TR4C back to a transceiver, simply power OFF the
R4B and set the left
side "RCVR/TRCVR" switch to "TRCVR" and the R4B will no longer
be the receiver,
the TR4C receiver will perform receive functions.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/23/25 8:10 PM, Ralph AD9FM
via groups.io wrote:
Hello fellow Drake owners. Can the TR4C be paired with any
Drake receiver? In my case in particular the R4B??
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
|
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
Agree with the NTC current limiter comments of '0C and 'RF.
?
You can measure the actual power into the AC-4 with a strangely named "Kill-a-Watt" AC power meter; they work well.
?
TX will be more than RX, but duty cycle is low unless you are running RTTY which is not good for sweep tubes.
?
You can then size the CL from:
?
?
I have used CL-70, 80, and 90 in various pieces of gear to limit inrush, with good result.
?
For AC-4 I used either CL-80 or CL-90; YMMV.
?
As 'RF said you do not want these to get too hot.
?
Simple to install in a piece of gear or in a simple utility box as also mentioned.
?
GL es 73
?
Steve
?
KL7JT/1
?
?
|
Thanks Mike I must have missed that in the manual.?
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Ralph,
If you are asking if an R4B can be used as a separate receiver with the
TR4C then the answer is yes.
Connect the R4B Antenna and ground to the TR4C rear "External Receiver Antenna"
socket and the R4B Mute and ground terminals to the TR4C rear "External Receiver
Mute" socket.
To use the R4B as the receiver with the TR4C, set the Left side "RCVR/TRCVR switch
to "RCVR". The R4B will be the receiver.
To revert the TR4C back to a transceiver, simply power OFF the R4B and set the left
side "RCVR/TRCVR" switch to "TRCVR" and the R4B will no longer be the receiver,
the TR4C receiver will perform receive functions.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/23/25 8:10 PM, Ralph AD9FM via groups.io wrote:
Hello fellow Drake owners. Can the TR4C be paired with any Drake receiver? In my case in particular the R4B??
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
|
By the way Ralph, the R4B connections to the TR4C I mentioned are
covered in the TR4C manual.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/23/25 8:10 PM, Ralph AD9FM via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello fellow Drake owners. Can the TR4C be paired with any Drake
receiver? In my case in particular the R4B??
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
|
Ralph,
If you are asking if an R4B can be used as a separate receiver with
the
TR4C then the answer is yes.
Connect the R4B Antenna and ground to the TR4C rear "External
Receiver Antenna"
socket and the R4B Mute and ground terminals to the TR4C rear
"External Receiver
Mute" socket.
To use the R4B as the receiver with the TR4C, set the Left side
"RCVR/TRCVR switch
to "RCVR". The R4B will be the receiver.
To revert the TR4C back to a transceiver, simply power OFF the R4B
and set the left
side "RCVR/TRCVR" switch to "TRCVR" and the R4B will no longer be
the receiver,
the TR4C receiver will perform receive functions.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/23/25 8:10 PM, Ralph AD9FM via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello fellow Drake owners. Can the TR4C be paired with any Drake
receiver? In my case in particular the R4B??
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
|
Hello fellow Drake owners. Can the TR4C be paired with any Drake receiver? In my case in particular the R4B??
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Get
|
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
They are simple and reliable. Pretty much every SMPS made has at least one. Your PC, your TV, etc. On Fri, 23 May 2025 05:17:39 -0700 "Jim VE7RF via groups.io" <jim.thom@...> wrote: Or a NTC surge limiter in the AC mains side of the power supply.
That would work too...... but they have to be sized correctly.? ?They run hot, and have to stay hot.? ?IE:? no forced air on them, or their resistance will increase.
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
On 2025-05-23 14:21, Jahman N5ASE via groups.io wrote: Or just bolt a nice aluminum box from Bud Industries *** Wow, those nice die-cast boxes are expensive. I always grab'em when I find them at the flea market. - Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
Or just bolt a nice aluminum box from Bud Industries onto the L-4B/L-7 PSU front panel (bolt-on vertical or horizontal) and use it to trick-out your PSU:
AMAZON - BUD Industries CN-5714 Die Cast Aluminum Enclosure 10.81" L x 6.89" W x 2.64" H, Natural
Many other sizes available to suit your needs.
Stuff the box with all sorts of electronics, like the resistor for start-up.? Also add a power switch that can handle the current surge.? Add a pilot light.? Add an HV voltmeter for permanent HV readings:
AMAZON - Baomain Analog 85C1 DC 0-5V Rectanglular Panel Meter
AMAZON -?Baomain Analog 65C5 DC 0-5 V Round? Panel Meter
Change the L-4B/L-7 front panel switches from AC mains to 12VDC
AMAZON - Rotary Panel Switch, 690VAC, 32A
Use control modules to sense and protect your amp against high SWR,
DXWORLD-E?SWR Module, HF, 6m, 2.5KW
Use control modules to sense and protect your RF deck and PSU transformer?against high temperature:
AMAZON -?12V Temperature Controller, -50 to 110C Degrees, WITH Display
AMAZON - 12V Temperature Controller, -50 to 110C Degrees,?NO Diplay
Even protect against arcing in your amp, antenna tuner, feedline, balun and antennas, any and all covered. Key takeaway:? Arcing turns your amp/tuner/feedline/antenna into a Marconi broadband spark transmitter:
NASA -?Arc Protection System for High-Power RF Amplifiers
For the coupler, use the SWR module above.
You could even build-in a RaspberryPi to tie-in with your home's skeduler and disable your rig for the times you've been assigned house chores.? Negotiate this feature for the funds to pay for all this gear, and more!
Just my 2 Volts.
73 de Andrew/N5ASE
>On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 03:54 AM, Jim Shorney wrote:
>Or a NTC surge limiter in the AC mains side of the power supply.
That would work too...... but they have to be sized correctly.? ?They run hot, and have to stay hot.? ?IE:? no forced air on them, or their resistance will increase.? The op did not tell us what tube or tube fils? he is trying to limit inrush current on.? For stuff like my L4B's,? I do the step start externally.? ?It's just a 8x8x4 electrical box, (home depot)? with loads of knock outs.? ?2 x P+B / Deltrol? DPST? 30 amp relays, + a 20 ohm / 50-100 watt resistor.? ?I used arcol metal finned resistors since I had? a bunch of them.? No standoffs? required, just bolt em down.? Small control cable? runs from the new? box on floor.....up to a small? mini box on desk, with 2 x mini toggle switches......one for each 120 vac relay coil.? ?Relay #1? applies the 240 vac. (On/off switch on L4B left permanently in the on position).? 20 ohm resistor in one leg of the 240 vac.? ?B+ comes up to 90% of normal.? ?Fils on the pair of 3-500Z's come up to 70% of normal brilliance.? ?Wait 2-3 secs, then hit toggle #2....and 2nd relay operates.? ?One pole on 2nd relay? shunts the resistor.? ?2nd pole on 2nd relay has the key line running through it.? ? IE: step start the B+ and the fils at the same time.? IE: manually operated step start.? ?Amp can't be keyed until 2nd relay is operated.? ?Dead simple.? ?When? switching from SSB to lower 1900 vdc CW position, non issue.? ? ?When switching from CW 1900 vdc? back to the SSB? 2650 vdc position, I put the resistor back in the circuit,? then switch? from CW to? SSB, then? shunt the resistor.? I have 2 x harbach boards in each L4PS, and each board has 8 x 330 uf caps.? ? The on/off switch in the L4B is a 10 amp slide switch buried below the rocker switch....and is flaky at best.??
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Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items
Barry's correct on the first one.? The second one looks like a rear upper panel for a TR-4C
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).
Barry - N4BUQ
Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
--
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
|
Re: Another TR-3 s/n 1329
I have found a superior applicator for contact and switch cleaning: eye makeup foam applicators.? They also work fine for cleaning other small mechanical items.? They can be occasionally pressed into a cloth to remove dirty residue and reused to a limited extent.??
I no longer use Q Tips for anything other than cleaning PTO shafts and cleaning old grease/applying new grease to the PTO or the ball bearing in some of the switch detents.
You can get a bag of 'em from Amazon for around $5.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 9:48 AM, John K5MO via groups.io <johnk5mo@...> wrote:
"
I am done for the night and will not press my luck.
I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5."
Congrats Dave, and you're wise to not push your luck when tired and success is on the way! I would NOT spray switch contacts or sockets with Deoxit (or anything else) but daub some on with a qtip and work it around (or daub it on tube pin contacts). Drake used phenolic wafers and sockets and those are like sponges for fluids. Good work and keep us posted! 73 John K5MO
On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 12:13?AM Dave Stepnowski KC3AM via <kc3am= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks for the suggestions guys.
There was no jumper on the RV3 VFO socket.
I have installed a 8 pin plug with pins 2 & 8 jumpered.
It is amazing what happens when something is connected properly!
Voltages on C145 are dead nuts on.
I am now using an original power supply that I got last year, original
paper caps and it seems to work just fine.
The radio is now somewhat alive!
Plenty of audio from the speaker. RF tune control does what it should.
Using a Motorola service monitor I can input a CW signal and can hear it
on all bands except 40, 40 seems dead at the moment.
I was able to tune it on 20 and had about 80 watts output.
Hooking up a whip antenna in the basement tonight did not produce any
signals anywhere.
My TS-590 didn't sound much better either with the R7 vertical.
What I did notice on 80 was many, many birdies across the band with
nothing hooked up.
I am done for the night and will not press my luck.
I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5.
I will hook up an outside antenna and see what happens.
Dave KC3AM
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Jim Shorney