Neon Lamps In Vintage Radio

[Ken]

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:36:04 -0500, default <default@defaulter.net>
wrote:

I have some 1N4002 and 1N4007 diodes. Would they work?
Sure, with a simple 20 milliamp red led almost anything will work.

I think the 4002 is a 100 volt part and the 4007 a 600V part
and one amp/1,000 ma.

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/1N/1N4007.pdf

 

[default]

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:45:30 +0100, Ken <_ken_3_@telia.com> wrote:

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:36:04 -0500, default <default@defaulter.net
wrote:

I have some 1N4002 and 1N4007 diodes. Would they work?
Sure, with a simple 20 milliamp red led almost anything will work.

I think the 4002 is a 100 volt part and the 4007 a 600V part
and one amp/1,000 ma.


http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/1N/1N4007.pdf

Your point was?

OK the 4007 is 1,000 volts - hardly relevant under the circumstances.
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[Rich Grise]

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 07:03:40 -0700, the1930s@googlemail.com wrote:

** Use 9 or 12 volt bulbs - you goose.

I thought of that, however as the existing pilot lamps are hidden behind
the dial and reflect off the clear faceplate, they aren't bright enough
now, so 12 volt bulbs would be ineffective. I'm thinking of going with
bright LED's and bringing them around the front of the dial for more
light.

That would be the logical thing to do.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Suzy]

Are they in parallel? If so, it might be the case that they are in a series
heater chain with the valves (and the parallel lamp bit is to stop the whole
radio failing if one dial lamp blows). If it is a series heater/lamp chain
in this way then the set is probably transformerless ("AC/DC") and VERY
dangerous to work on or use without an isolating transformer (NOT an
autotransformer. That is because the set will work even if the (two-pin)
power connector is wrongly inserted, but the chassis and all the fittings
will be live!

<the1930s@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1194095736.296659.28420@v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com...

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here goes.. I have
an old 1960's radio that uses two 6 volt incandescent lamps for the
dial. Would it be possible to substitute these for NE-2 neon bulbs?
The side contact on the bulbs connect to the chassis of the radio
which acts as earth.

 

[Suzy]

"Baron" <baron.nospam@linuxmainiac.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:fghvge$lht$2@aioe.org...

the1930s@googlemail.com wrote:

I forgot to mention that this is a transistor radio, the only high
voltage is at the transformer. Perhaps LED's are the easy way. Some
bright orange ones would do. What resistors would I need for them?

In which case I would definitely stay with the incandescent bulbs!

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

Oh, that changes everything. Ignore my last post! My other point is that
historical radios are best not modified.

 

[Ninja]

<the1930s@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1194103266.812934.92300@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

I' going to have to stay with the existing lamps. I inspecting the
radio and there's no way the LED's will fit between the faceplate and
the dial, without filing a hole in the faceplate

How can that be? The common T1.75 LED is much smaller than the typical pilot
lamp. And LEDs come in much smaller packages than T1.75 if you need smaller
ones. Surely there are LEDs that will fit in the same space as your old
pilot lamps.

What size and shape (or part number) are your pilot lamps? Do you know the
voltage applied to each lamp, and whether it's AC or DC? You'll need to know
these things to select the LED biasing components. Guessing is not the
preferred approach.

You might consider installing the LED into the base of the old pilot lamp,
possibly with a small resistor and, if necessary, a diode too. This approach
would let you keep the radio wiring all original and still enjoy the
improved efficiency and life expectancy of LEDs.

 

[Marra]

On 3 Nov, 13:58, "the19...@googlemail.com" <the19...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

I forgot to mention that this is a transistor radio, the only high
voltage is at the transformer. Perhaps LED's are the easy way. Some
bright orange ones would do. What resistors would I need for them?

A 220R resistor would be fine off 6 volts.

www.ckp-railways.talktalk.net/pcbcad28.htm

 

[default]

On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 06:44:25 +1100, "Suzy" <not@valid> wrote:

My other point is that
historical radios are best not modified.

Ditto that last. If it is a thing of beauty keep it honest to its
original form. You have to make the call there.

If you decide to use LEDs use them back to back for AC and to use two
ordinary 20 milliamp leds use a 150 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in series
with them. Leds are in parallel anode to cathode and served by a
single 150-160 ohm resistor from the AC supply (if it is indeed AC -
with a transistor set it might be DC)
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[the1930s@googlemail.com]

I'm going to leave it as it is.

 

[the1930s@googlemail.com]

How can that be? The common T1.75 LED is much smaller than the typical pilot
lamp. And LEDs come in much smaller packages than T1.75 if you need smaller
ones. Surely there are LEDs that will fit in the same space as your old
pilot lamps.

The pilot lamps are behind the dial reflecting off the clear plastic
faceplate, and therefore aren't very effective, I was hoping to bring
the LED's forward to illuminate the dial better, but the faceplate
doesn't allow that.

Ditto that last. If it is a thing of beauty keep it honest to its
original form. You have to make the call there.

No it's not the most beautiful radio I've ever seen, so I have no
regrets about modifying it. It's yellowed plastic, with a clear
faceplate. Quite ugly.

 

[Ninja]

<the1930s@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1194139229.282610.81260@e34g2000pro.googlegroups.com...

How can that be? The common T1.75 LED is much smaller than the typical
pilot
lamp.

The pilot lamps are behind the dial reflecting off the clear plastic
faceplate, and therefore aren't very effective, I was hoping to bring
the LED's forward to illuminate the dial better, but the faceplate
doesn't allow that.

I see. I thought you had said that you wanted brighter light and longer life

expectancy than you could get with incandescent lamps. LEDs would have done
that nicely, and with lower power consumption too.



But replacing the original lamps is certainly the easiest thing to do. And I
do agree that keeping it original, even if it's not a highly desirable
collector's item, is always a good choice. Sometimes, the antique that shows
its age is the most interesting one.

 

[the1930s@googlemail.com]

But replacing the original lamps is certainly the easiest thing to do. And I
do agree that keeping it original, even if it's not a highly desirable
collector's item, is always a good choice. Sometimes, the antique that shows
its age is the most interesting one.

That's what a lot of vintage radio collectors say. The radio is
staying original. I really don't fancy drilling holes in the
faceplate.

 

[the1930s@googlemail.com]

Thanks for all your help, everyone, I will probably be back in the
future, as I am just getting interested in electronics, and will
likely need help with something or another.

 

[Baron]

the1930s@googlemail.com wrote:

I'm going to leave it as it is.

I'm glad to hear that!

--
Best Regards:
Baron.