03-05-2017, 07:12 PM
>I think the first purchase will be a variac. Will a 300 or do I need a 500VAC do the test on these old radio"s with transformers.
I think you mean 300 watt or 500watt unit which = about 3amp or 5amp. Either is plenty big. Most radio reciever is going to be 30 to maybe 200 watts tops. That would be a large 15+ tube set.
<I did see some signal generators on there too. >
For just doing broadcast sets you don't need a particularly high end unit. There are a lot of 1950's-60's kit built ones like Heathkit and Eico. General your looking at abt $25 or less. A handy gizzmo to get is a frequency counter. What this will tell you is the exact frequency of an oscillator, like your signal generator or local oscillator in your receiver. With one of these you don't need to rely on the accuracy of the generator's dial. It can be had for abt $10 from China.
> Do I need a oscilloscope too.
I wouldn't bother with one if you are just servicing receivers. If you were doing TV's it comes in handy. There's a bit of a learning curve to get use to one too.
I think you mean 300 watt or 500watt unit which = about 3amp or 5amp. Either is plenty big. Most radio reciever is going to be 30 to maybe 200 watts tops. That would be a large 15+ tube set.
<I did see some signal generators on there too. >
For just doing broadcast sets you don't need a particularly high end unit. There are a lot of 1950's-60's kit built ones like Heathkit and Eico. General your looking at abt $25 or less. A handy gizzmo to get is a frequency counter. What this will tell you is the exact frequency of an oscillator, like your signal generator or local oscillator in your receiver. With one of these you don't need to rely on the accuracy of the generator's dial. It can be had for abt $10 from China.
> Do I need a oscilloscope too.
I wouldn't bother with one if you are just servicing receivers. If you were doing TV's it comes in handy. There's a bit of a learning curve to get use to one too.
When my pals were reading comic books
I was down in the basement in my dad's
workshop. Perusing his Sam's Photofoacts
Vol 1-50 admiring the old set and trying to
figure out what all those squiggly meant.
Circa 1966
Now I think I've got!
Terry
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