Posts: 14
Threads: 3
Joined: May 2018
City: Alexandria
State, Province, Country: Louisiana
i just completed restoring my Philco 40-180 and I noticed that if the onboard antenna and ground were not connected, no sound, not even static came from the radio.
I am now working on a Victor RE 45 from 1929. If not connected to ground, will I get any sound (including Static) from the radio? I have no ground attachment in my shop and before I go to the trouble of installing one, checking with those more knowledgeable me, just how necessary is ground connection.
Posts: 330
Threads: 30
Joined: Aug 2017
City: Hay Lakes, Alberta,Canada
I don't know of many radios that will work without an antenna, but most will work without a ground. However, from my experience, the earlier ones (mid 30's and back) don't work well without a proper ground. They can have problems with weak reception and noisier operation (static). Non-superhets are the most affected by not having a proper ground connection.
Posts: 14
Threads: 3
Joined: May 2018
City: Alexandria
State, Province, Country: Louisiana
Thanks for your prompt reply. I knew they don’t work at all without an antenna. This being a non superhet, I understand now. If I’m going to tinker on pre-1930 non superhets, I will have to install a ground in my shop.
Thanks again for the help!!
Posts: 667
Threads: 11
Joined: Sep 2014
City: Bellmawr, NJ
YUP,,,went nuts with same thing on a Emerson model 39,,,no ground no sound,,,,ground to water pipes,,,works well
Posts: 14
Threads: 3
Joined: May 2018
City: Alexandria
State, Province, Country: Louisiana
My exact problem too!! No sound!!! Then I remembered that the Philco 40-180 has nothing either if antenna AND ground are not hooked up. Usually if you touch the antenna connection you get something, a humm or static. Got nothing.
Thanks again!!
Posts: 1,191
Threads: 25
Joined: Jan 2014
City: Wellborn Florida
Many homes today have PVC water pipes so no luck with that for a ground. Easy to use a 8 foot ground rod and a acorn clamp and a run of something like number 12 stranded wire. Try and place your radio ground rod at least 20 feet from the ground used for the house electrical. David
Posts: 14
Threads: 3
Joined: May 2018
City: Alexandria
State, Province, Country: Louisiana
Yes I know!?. That’s why I asked the original question. I have water pipes for a ground at my shop. Will have to buy and sink a growing rod. Thanks for the tip to place it 20 feet away from the house service electrical. It’s farther than that, but good to know.
Thanks again for the help!!
Posts: 27
Threads: 1
Joined: Aug 2018
City: Mississauga
State, Province, Country: Ontario
If you replace the line cord with a 3-wire cord, you may be able to ground the chassis and connect the ground input to the chassis. You may not have conductive water pipes but you should have a ground connection to the ground wire.
Posts: 4,706
Threads: 51
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
A Philco 40-180 should have a loop antenna inside the bottom of the cabinet, is is missing this may explain the reception issues as the loop antenna is part of the antenna circuit in the front end of the radio, rather then a broadcast band antenna coil mounted on the chassis. A ground should not be necessary for reception on an early 40s radio of any type, aside from a cheap TRF set if there were any still being made at the time.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 2,118
Threads: 112
Joined: Jun 2010
City: Medford OR (OR what?)
On the schematic, part number 64 gives you a chassis ground through 2 Y (X,Y or X1 Y2 ) caps to the power line. Probably not a good as a ground rod, but adequate.
"I just might turn into smoke, but I feel fine"
http://www.russoldradios.com/
Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)
|
|
Recent Posts
|
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| Thanks to all for the feedback. As Arran said, it is probably an older replacement and yes it has a grid cap so I will ...georgetownjohn — 09:32 PM |
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| It's possible that the red wire, actually a grid cap lead, is a very old replacement, I can't remember seeing a pre 1939...Arran — 09:18 PM |
|
Gilfillan Brothers Car Radio?
|
| Hi everyone,
Special thanks to Joe Rossi for tracking down this obscure radio and thanks to others who took up the hun...Antipodal — 08:15 PM |
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| Here's one source for your wire of many.
Take care and BE HEALTHY! Gary
P.S. Can't get the right color you need? I ...GarySP — 06:40 PM |
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| ...and modern wire of the appropriate gauges and insulation V-rating (300V minimum, usually shown right on the wire) is ...morzh — 05:47 PM |
|
1930s Stromberg-Carlson Tombstone Radio need help identifying model number
|
| I have a question about this radio, is there anyone that has access to this radio that has an intact unmolested speaker ...captainclock1988 — 04:28 PM |
|
1930s Stromberg-Carlson Tombstone Radio need help identifying model number
|
| Well what makes me confuse all of those companies is that all three of those companies (Setchell-Carlson, Stromberg-Carl...captainclock1988 — 04:21 PM |
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| The red wire is rubber covered wire.
The others are cotton braid over rubber often in colors or a tracer, also strand...Chas — 02:43 PM |
|
trying to identify this wire type
|
| Greetings Phorum members,
Hope you can help me identify this type of wire in the photo I have attached. I am not sure ...georgetownjohn — 01:53 PM |
|
Philco 60 Squealing
|
| All correct shields must be in place, all tubes correct no subs of any kind.
Check any soldered, riveted ground conne...Chas — 01:24 PM |
|
Who's Online
|
| There are currently no members online. |
|
 
|
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
