04-26-2026, 12:11 AM
Hi SRv2,
What you need depends on the type of farm set. There were many different versions including the following:
2V A (filament), 90V or 135V B, -3, -7,5V C for many farm sets from about 1932-1938
1.5V A, 90V B some farm sets from mid 1938 on, many battery only portables
6VDC (Set used a vibrator power supply for B+, tube heaters and the vibrator power supply ran off 6VDC from a storage battery, much like a car radio). Common on farms that were mechanized or had windmills (Win-Charger)
32VDC (series filament string, and space charge tubes that could run off 32VDC without a vibrator power supply. These were used on farms that had a 32V power plant and bank of storage batteries.
If the set uses 1.5V for A and 90V for B, consider using a D Cell for the A battery and the circuit from Phil's Old radios for a B supply. However, use an isolation transformer with that supply. The supply that Rod B built is excellent and is likely much cheaper to build than buying an ARBE
The ARBEIII is expensive but could run the first 2 types easily. I have one and love it, but I use it for the old 1920s sets that use 01As, 112s, 71s, etc. Of the 3 commercially built supplies that you researched, the ARBE is head and shoulders above the others, especially considering the price of the others. At $140, I wouldn't even consider the BEAR.
For my RCA 5BT and 6BT (2V, 135V, -3, -7.5V, I built a 135V supply for about $50. For the 2V filaments, I used a 3V 1A wall wart and a 2 Ohm 5 W resistor (the set needed 2V at 500 mA for the heaters).
Hope this helps.
What you need depends on the type of farm set. There were many different versions including the following:
2V A (filament), 90V or 135V B, -3, -7,5V C for many farm sets from about 1932-1938
1.5V A, 90V B some farm sets from mid 1938 on, many battery only portables
6VDC (Set used a vibrator power supply for B+, tube heaters and the vibrator power supply ran off 6VDC from a storage battery, much like a car radio). Common on farms that were mechanized or had windmills (Win-Charger)
32VDC (series filament string, and space charge tubes that could run off 32VDC without a vibrator power supply. These were used on farms that had a 32V power plant and bank of storage batteries.
If the set uses 1.5V for A and 90V for B, consider using a D Cell for the A battery and the circuit from Phil's Old radios for a B supply. However, use an isolation transformer with that supply. The supply that Rod B built is excellent and is likely much cheaper to build than buying an ARBE
The ARBEIII is expensive but could run the first 2 types easily. I have one and love it, but I use it for the old 1920s sets that use 01As, 112s, 71s, etc. Of the 3 commercially built supplies that you researched, the ARBE is head and shoulders above the others, especially considering the price of the others. At $140, I wouldn't even consider the BEAR.
For my RCA 5BT and 6BT (2V, 135V, -3, -7.5V, I built a 135V supply for about $50. For the 2V filaments, I used a 3V 1A wall wart and a 2 Ohm 5 W resistor (the set needed 2V at 500 mA for the heaters).
Hope this helps.
"Do Justly, love Mercy and walk humbly with your God"- Micah 6:8
"Let us begin to do good"- St. Francis
Best Regards,
MrFixr55




