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Add AC socket to 37-116 - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Add AC socket to 37-116 (/showthread.php?tid=18813)


Add AC socket to 37-116 - Manjof - 08-13-2018

Hi all,
My 37-116 (122) radio puts out a lot of heat from the chassis due to the many
tubes and I suspect the large transformer.  I am thinking of placing a 120vac
muffin fan somewhere in the vicinity of the chassis to help with cooling.
Is this feasible and how would I connect an ac outlet so that the fan operates
when the radio is turned on?  The fan has an ac plug at the end of a line cord.
Thanks for any ideas.

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Radioroslyn - 08-14-2018

A couple things come to mind as I have a similar issue w/my 116X.  The power transformer after a hour or 2 gets pretty hot to the touch.
I have used a muffin fan but I find it rather noisy. It's connected to the power thru a cord w/an inline switch. Just one of those little rectangular ones w/the round thumbwheel in the center from the hardware store.

Or you could use a bucking transformer. Because of the size of the set I'd use a 2 or 3 amp transformer. 12v will get you down to abt 110v or a 24 will get you abt 100v. Have seen this setup built into a double electrical box using a outlet/switch in one and the rest of the space in the box for the transformer. Lowering the voltage will have very little effect to the performance till you start below 90v or so.

GL

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Manjof - 08-14-2018

Thanks GL,
I was thinking maybe I could get the power, 120v, to the fan by hooking up to
the on/off sw of the radio somehow. That way the fan would come on at the same
time. Will that pose a problem to the 37-116?
Manjof

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - morzh - 08-14-2018

I do not remember what voltage 37-116 is for, I use it straight with no bucking; it produces no more heat than I would expect. If the heat is truly excessive, it needs to be looked at; if it is what's expected, a fan is not warranted and even though will cool the chassis (which should be OK with the heat anyway) will not result in any lower temp in the room (if this is the concern), the noise notwithstanding.

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Manjof - 08-14-2018

Thank you morzh.
I was just thinking that the temp is ok for each tube, but the cumulative temp
would somehow shorten the life of the tubes. I may be wrong here. Anyway, just an
idea.
Manjof

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - radio63 - 08-14-2018

Just as a suggestion, make sure you leave enough space between the wall and the back of the radio to allow for good air circulation.  Also in my opinion, if you choose to use a muffin fan for cooling the chassis, I would not try to tie it in with the 37-116's power switch.  Just wire it up with its own dedicated power cord and switch.  Better that way than to mess with wiring it up inside the chassis.

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Manjof - 08-14-2018

Thanks radio63,
I will probably do as you suggested, although it will not be as convenient to wiring to
the switch, but it will be more simple.  Thanks again.
Manjof

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Radioroslyn - 08-14-2018

GL is for the acronym good luck.

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Manjof - 08-14-2018

Terry,
I have been duly admonished.

RE: Add AC socket to 37-116 - Arran - 08-19-2018

This is the first time that I have encountered someone being concerned about heat buildup inside a console radio, in most cases there is so much dead space inside the cabinet, and an open back, that it never really gets a chance to build up like it would in something like an RCA Nipper from 1939-40 or one of the mid 30s "midget" radios. You could add a fan if you want to, but I don't think that it's really necessary.
Regards
Arran