boat anchor transformer

[dickE]

Good afternoon!

I am looking for a transformer: 115VAC primary, Secondary 1: 150VAC @ 50/75 ma, Seconday2: 6.3VAC @ 2A. This item to be used to modify a Hallicrafters S-38 receiver.

I have been licensed since 1952, (W1YFL), now 72 years old and retired. Trying to get back on CW "on the cheap."

If you have this item and wish to sell it, please respond via Email:
demmons550@copper.net

73's
Dick Emmons
Gilford, NH

[WA9WVX]

Hello Dick,

Needs A Power Transformer Bad – A Common Component Failure Item on this Shortwave Receiver. These Receivers were manufactured back between 1946 ~ 1949 and there were Six (6) versions before being Discontinued. There was the S-38 (O)riginal followed by the A, B, C, D & E versions. During the 1950s, 1960s and into the early 1970s, it was practical to order replacement parts and/or components at a very reasonable price and repair the electronic equipment back to the original condition.

During the 1960s technology was beginning to change to state-of-the-art solid state being transistors and integrated circuits that were mounted on printed circuit boards and these components operated on much lower voltages such as +28 VDC for the Military and +13.8 VDC or less for the Commercial & Consumer Electronic Products. By the mid 1970s electronic tube (valves) equipment was disappearing out of engineering design projects and solid state was replacing everything at a very rapid rate.

Amateur Radio equipment wasn’t immune to this technology as many well-known U.S. manufactures were feeling the financial pinch as the Japanese products were being sold in the U.S.A. and around the world.
Names such as RME, EFJohnson, Central Electronics, Hammarlund, National, Hallicrafters, Collins, Swan, Atlas, Globe, R.L. Drake, Multi-Elmac, Eldico, Lafayette, Knight Kit, Heath Kit, Henry Radio, World Radio Labs, Side Band Engineering, Allied/Radio Shack, Gonset, Clegg, Philmore & Signal One have all entered and left the Amateur Radio Market. There are only three U.S. manufactures left and they are Ten-Tec, Elecraft and Flex-Radio. The rest are Japanese and they are Alinco, AOR, ICOM, Kenwood & Yaesu.

Since WWII, financial wages have increased throughout the years but so has the price of everything else including replacement parts and components, and the manufactures are not required to keep obsolete or discontinued stock available for more than seven (7) years to maintain their legacy equipment. The manufactures will either put their extra components or part assemblies in their parts department or sell them to national surplus dealers and the Price & Availability will follow the Supply & Demand Rules of Business which can end up costing way more than the original price of each component or of a complete assembled unit.

Now returning to your Hallicrafters S-38 Power Transformer issue, I’ve searched all over the Internet and only have found one source for a replacement XFMR that’s a little shy of the 150 VAC requirement as the replacement only produces 140 VAC and has the Filament windings. This XFMR is sold by Surplus Sales of Nebraska and it’s not inexpensive as the piece Part # (TP) P3079 is listed at $95.00 each plus shipping.

Surplus Sales of Nebraska webpage:

http://www.surplussales.com/Transfor...-7.html#100x11

Then I considered taking the BAD XFMR to a guy in Maine to have it rewound and that was even more expensive $135.00 plus shipping.

Transformer Rewinding Service webpage:

http://members.tripod.com/tubes_tube...vice/id24.html

Dick, you’ve got to ask yourself, “How important is this old S-38 Shortwave Receiver to spend more money than it’s worth, just to repair the unit?”

And you do not know if the Filter Capacitors are any good at this point, they could be dried out due to age. I haven’t even mentioned that purchasing replacement of vacuum (valves) tubes are very expensive in themselves as they’re not $1~2.00 each any longer. Replacement vacuum valves or tubes range from $8~$15.00 each depending where you can find them. I think you better rethink this project since the financial cost is exceeding the financial value of your old Hallicrafters S-38 Shortwave Receiver.

You have some options at this point by considering to purchase a used and/or reconditioned Amateur Radio product from:

Land Air Communications in South Richmond Hill, New York and here’s his webpage:

http://www.landaircom.com/

Consider purchasing a new Ten-Tec Model 1254 Solid State Shortwave Receiver Kit that covers 100 KHz~30 MHz W/Digital Frequency Display and accuracy to 100 Hz for $205.00 plus shipping. Here’s Ten-Tec]s webpage:

http://radio.tentec.com/kits/receivers/1254

Perhaps you would like to build a full blown H.F. + 6 MTR Transceiver either as a 10 Watt or 100 Watt Output depending on your skill levels and financial means plus shipping from Elecraft’s webpage:

http://www.elecraft.com/

Here’s the most expensive option, Flex-Radio webpage:

http://www.flex-radio.com/

Here are the Japanese manufacture websites for new Amateur Radio equipment. Then contact your closest Amateur Radio Dealer:

ICOM America webpage and Click on Amateur:

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/

Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation webpage and Scroll down to HF Base Mobile:

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Communications/Amateur_Radio/

YAESU webpage:

http://www.yaesu.com/

ALINCO webpage:

http://www.alinco.com/usa.html

AOR Communications webpage:

http://www.aorusa.com/main.html

Dick, you’ve stated that you’re Retired and do not have an unlimited income to spend hundreds of dollars on a hobby that you’re not completely convinced is worth the time, money and effort to return too! You’ve got to decide if the old legacy Hallicrafters S-38 Shortwave Receiver still fits into your plans or if you need to upgrade the basic equipment to something newer and then start operating on Amateur Radio.

73,

Dan
WA9WVX
41.5 Years with the same Callsign, some things NEVER change.

[M0TZO]

Dan, always impressed by your posts. Love the research and detail of your responses.