Philco console help!

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Reece

Playing a radio of this vintage without changing the electrolytic caps and paper caps is asking for trouble! Even on a radio that plays, all of a sudden one of the caps can short and blow and depending on where it is in the circuit, it can take out the rectifier tube and, heaven forbid, the power transformer! Time to put its feet in the air and give it some transplants. Another thing to do: clean the tube pins and sockets. Sometimes dirty contacts keep a set from working. Pull tube, spray pins with CRC Electronics Cleaner (auto parts store) and plug in and out of the socket several times. Put your computer onto Live 365 and pick out a big band station while you're working!

Reece

He speaks the truth!!! At this very moment, there's a nice '48 Zenith AM/FM in my hands with a fried power transformer. I have not torn into it yet; but, I bet it got fried by a shorted capacitor in the B+ circuit. It probably happened when the flea market vendor plugged it in and didn't unplug it until the smoke came out. So, it would be much better for you to replace a few dollars in caps now than to chase down an expensive transformer or other part later on. You can buy caps at www.tubesandmore.com, www.justradios.com, www.mouser.com, or www.radiodaze.com. You can probably download a free schematic for your radio at www.nostalgiaair.org.