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Philco 630csx power cord - Printable Version

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Philco 630csx power cord - Tynwald - 02-14-2025

I posted this on FB but knowing that not all of us use social media, it seemed sensible to ask my question here. 

I recently acquired this 630CSX chairside that has an unusual (at least for me) power cord with three wires; two for AC and one for the antenna. There's a place on the plug where a long wire could be attached, presumably to improve SW reception. Has anyone encountered this before? The cord is a complete loss and will need to be replaced. I'm tempted to reuse the funky plug but am unsure how to do it. It may not be obvious from the picture but the plug is flat, so it wouldn't be easy to connect a conventional line cord to it (what's there now almost looks like old 300 ohm feed line). I'm also curious to know if having the antenna line so close to the AC would introduce 60 Hz hum. Maybe the best thing to do is to switch to an era appropriate power cord and plug with a separate line for the antenna, although it would be fun to try reproducing the original. Thoughts?

RE: Philco 630csx power cord - radiorich - 02-14-2025

Hello Tynwald ,
I would not use that plug and what I would do is us Some of this cloth covered wire !
you can also buy old style plugs too.

Sincerely Richard

[Image: https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-bqp0js5qot/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/7271/144521/WI18SPT1POULBR_02__54081.1625003193.jpg?c=1&imbypass=on]

RE: Philco 630csx power cord - morzh - 02-14-2025

Second Rich's opinion.
Run a separate antenna wire. Use a separate plug.



Rich

Where did you get this wire? Seems like it is less shiny than what I keep buying. I like it, it is more like the original.

RE: Philco 630csx power cord - radiorich - 02-15-2025

Hello Mike
Here is the Link to the company the place is called Grand Brass lamp parts .
I buy all my Lamp parts plus power cords for my radios .

Cloth Covered Lamp wire
Sincerely Richard
P.S. they have been around since 1913 and great company to buy from .

RE: Philco 630csx power cord - Arran - 02-15-2025

Have you opened up that plug? It may be that the third wire is connected to that brass stud on the side of the plug and has nothing to do with the electrical outlet. Philco probably used this odd combination cord because the set is in a chairside style cabinet, and it was deemed a cleaner setup as opposed to running a separate antenna wire. You could probably replace it with some appliance cord, I see flat three conductor cords all the time on electric kettles, and waffle irons, etc. Would it pick up noise? Probably, with all of the switch mode stuff around today. When I first read your post I was thinking that some sets used one side of the power line as an antenna coupled through a capacitor, but usually on early FM radios, they didn't have that third wire. A lot of old intercoms ran the signal through the power cord, and to the next unit through the house wiring.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco 630csx power cord - Tynwald - 02-15-2025

Yes, the third wire goes to the stud on the side and is separate from the other two.

I've usually used cloth covered cords and era specific plugs but this one was so funky that I was tempted to use it somehow. Guess I'll just put it aside as a curiosity and just do what I've generally done with power cords and use a completely separate antenna wire. That wire should terminate at some sort of connector so one doesn't have to get access to the chassis to connect the antenna, which is more difficult to in chairsides than in most consoles. That would more-or-less serve the same purpose as the antenna stud on the old plug. 
Anyway, thanks to everyone.