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Hello radio fans:
I have a Zenith 5R-312. The wax has fallen off in chunks on the antenna and ocsillator coils. Is this wax covering needed for proper operation, and should I replace it. If so, how? Was thinking about melting some candles and brushing it on. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Buzz
(This post was last modified: 11-03-2013, 05:33 PM by
Buzz.)
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No, wax itself is not used for its electrical properties: it is strictly for fixing the wire in place to keep it from unwinding, plus the potting effect keeping it from oxidation.
If it fell off, as long as the wire is intact it will work, or you could simply take a candle and drip some paraphine over the coil.
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Salvage the bits of wax, put them in a an old soup can, melt them, then brush it back on the coil, a bit at a time, and then heat it up with a heat gun or hair dryer to even it out.
Regards
Arran
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Old scraps of fallen of wax may be contaminated with a lot of things. Best find or buy a non tinted mostly beeswax candle (you can beg a stub from a house of worship, but that's off topic.)
Agree if set is working properly, windings are probably OK.