The AM Forum
March 28, 2024, 03:55:36 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
   Home   Help Calendar Links Staff List Gallery Login Register  
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: National NC183D Questions  (Read 5867 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
W3ON
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 10


« on: June 12, 2019, 08:16:26 PM »

Hello
Recently I purchased a National NC183D at a local hamfest here in the Pittsburgh Pa area. It did not come with any manuals, schematics etc. I was told that it had been recapped, was operational, and had a NBFM adapter installed.When I  got it home I took a close look at it. It was, as I expected, the chassis was dirty. The cabinet, at the rear, had some major scratches. I then connected it to an external antenna at the SO239 connector, external speaker to the 8 Ohm terminals, and to a variac. I activated it, slowly using the variac. I did not note any electrical problems. I did note that it did appear to work properly. At that point I decided to clean the inside of the chassis. I have been doing this over a period of several days. I also cleaned the knobs.
Upon pulling the tubes and checking them against a list of tubes I found on the internet, I noted some discrepancies. I am wondering if I can get some advice as to why this was done. Or if I should get the original tubes. I found that:
V13 and V14 were 6W6GT. Not a 6V6GT.
V12 was a 6SN7. Not a 6J5.
V1 and V2 were 6CB6. Not a 6BA6.

The NBFM adapter is a NFM-07, uses a 6BZ6 not a 6AK5, and a 6H6.
From what I can find on the internet the NFM-07 is for a HRO50.

By the way, the serial number is stamped on the chassis is 372-0604. Anyone have information on that?

I have not yet removed the chassis from the cabinet. I am supposing that this unit has been modified

I have sent for some Electric Radio reprint magazine articles, and downloaded a SAMS Photo Fact.

Any information would be appreciated.

73 de Chuck W3ON
Logged
KK4YY
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 565


Your best isn't as good as you can be.


« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2019, 08:55:44 PM »

Chuck,

Well, a 6W6 is the same pin-out as a 6V6 so it should work, BUT it uses 1.2  amp of filament current as opposed to the 6V6 which uses .45 amp.

The 6CB6 and 6BA6 are different pin-outs, and the sockets would need to be rewired to be used. Same for the 6SN7 and 6J5 -- different pin-outs.

Maybe it was modified? Maybe it was a different version? I don't know.

Looks like you have some investigating to do.


Don
Logged

All your worries won't add a day to your life, or make the ones you have any happier.
w8khk
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 1200


This ham got his ticket the old fashioned way.


WWW
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2019, 09:20:42 PM »

Not only is the 6SN7 a different pinout than the 6J5, it is a dual triode where the 6J5 is a single triode.  So there may have been a modification adding some functionality.  Even the filament pins are different.

There may not need to be any wiring change for the 6CB6.  The two tubes have the cathode and suppressor grid interchanged between pin 2 and pin 7.  But in most cases, the suppressor grid and cathode are tied together, so if that is the case, the interconnections for these tubes would be identical.  The major difference is the 6AU6 is a remote cutoff pentode, which responds to AGC voltage, where the 6CB6 is a sharp cutoff pentode and has a much higher Gm.  If it is used as either an RF or IF amplifier, you may run into non-linearity and distortion.  Otherwise it should work fine. 

As an RF amplifier, the 6BZ6 is usually considered superior to the 6AK5 for intermod, but in the SSB adaptor it is probably a safe trade-off.
Logged

Rick / W8KHK  ex WB2HKX, WB4GNR
"Both politicians and diapers need to be changed often and for the same reason.”   Ronald Reagan

My smart?phone voicetext screws up homophones, but they are crystal clear from my 75 meter plate-modulated AM transmitter
Jim, W5JO
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 2506


« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2019, 03:44:24 PM »

You may have a later version of the radio.  The early version had a 6J5 as a Phase Inverter and the S meter was driven off the B- supply.  B- is above ground so do not short the case of the electrolytic filter cap to ground with the radio on.  Also the meter needle will rest to the left on this version with power off.

The version with the 6SN7 uses one triode as a meter driver and the other triode as a phase inverter and the meter needle rests on the right side when power if off.  Again do not short the case of the electrolytic cap to ground.

I also suggest that you obtain the diagram for the radio that uses the tubes stenciled on the chassis and check each tube socket for wiring changes to see if it has been modified for the tubes present in the set.  Also there are several different versions of the diagrams for the early and late versions.  The serial number will not mean anything concerning the diagram.

The tube numbers on the chassis should be a help in finding the right diagram.
Logged
KK4YY
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 565


Your best isn't as good as you can be.


« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2019, 04:07:06 PM »

Chuck,

You'll find the 6SN7 version, and others, here:
http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/national/nc183d/


Don
Logged

All your worries won't add a day to your life, or make the ones you have any happier.
W3ON
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 10


« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2019, 11:11:28 AM »

GM All
Thanks for your replies. I have downloaded the manual, and schematic for the 6SN7 version of the NC183D.
I am awaiting the delivery or the Electric Radio magazine reprints, which should arrive in today's mail.
I did some checking of the tubes last evening, although I am not sure what I am looking at. Hi Hi.
If I am reading things correctly on my old Eico tube tester, it looks like I have quite a few tubes that may
need replaced, such as (4) 6BA6, (2) 6BE6, (1) 6AL5, (2) 6CB6, (1) 6SN7 tubes. Although the NC183D
did appear to operate normally.

Funny thing about my Eico tube tester, it states that their is some sort of MERIT
test reading. I cannot yet figure out what the MERIT test is or where it is on the meter. I guess I am
going to have to read up on that. Hi Hi.

I am still wondering about modifications, and why that NFM-07 NBFM adapter was installed. I did more cleaning last evening. It is definitely better than it was.
73 de Chuck W3ON
Logged
w4bfs
W4 Beans For Supper
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1433


more inpoot often yields more outpoot


« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2019, 03:20:00 PM »

merit

typicaly a simple tester would drop the filament voltage 15 or so percent and observing the tube being tested if you saw the reading drop too much you would suppose the tube was loosing emission and therfore lacked merit

 Kiss Kiss Kiss
Logged

Beefus

O would some power the gift give us
to see ourselves as others see us.
It would from many blunders free us.         Robert Burns
Jim, W5JO
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 2506


« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2019, 05:09:21 PM »

The NBFM was installed in the radio to  receive Narrow Band FM.  I forget the bandwidth allowance but was a semi-popular mode on 10 meters, especially in some areas of the country.  Six meters was also somewhat active in parts of the country on AM too so that is why it is included.
Logged
W3ON
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 10


« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2019, 03:21:24 PM »

Question: Where can I get copies of Electric Radio Magazines for the National NC-183D?
I have obtained seven copies of various ER magazines. I am still missing three copies.
I attempted to order them from Electric Radio Magazine states 'Not Available'.

Maybe someone could make me a copy of those particular articles. So far,
I have not found a source for them. Except from ER Magazine. And their online system
states Not Available.

I received ER 40, 44, 122, 133, 186, 220 and 223.

I am missing
ER# 49 -- May 1993 -- A Calibrator for NC183D -- by Petrich.
ER#191 -- April 2005 -- Essential NC183D -- by Felton
ER#192 -- May 2005 -- Essential NC183D -- by Felton

I am still cleaning the NC183D. I have finished cleaning the top of the chassis.
I am using the NC183D just about every day.
I am still concerned about the tubes, although the NC183D is working. I am not seeing a lot
of excessive heat around the transformer. Although those two 6W6's are very warm. I am not sure
if my  Eico 667 tube tester is working. Hi Hi.

73 de Chuck W3ON
Logged
W3ON
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 10


« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2019, 07:18:47 PM »

GE All.

I have received copies of all three articles that I did not have from Electric Radio magazine.
Thanks to all who responded. I have not yet read them yet, but I am hopeful that they
will help me when I get the NC183D chassis out of the cabinet. As I said before I believe
that my NC183D probably was modified to some extent.

By the way, I have removed the 6W6GT tubes, and replaced them with 6V6GT tubes.
So far, I have not noticed much of a performance difference other than the
receiver appears to operate cooler.

73 de Chuck W3ON
Logged
kb2vxa
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 162


I modulate, therefore AM


« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2019, 04:39:54 PM »

Hi Chuck, another boat anchor better late than never. I'm glad you pulled the 6W6s, I was about to tell you to replace them with 6K6s that belong in there. No problem using 6V6s, the 6K6 is a power tetrode, the 6V6 is a beam power tetrode that has beam forming plates instead of a suppressor grid. National had a problem with transformers running hot with tar melting and dripping out, I had to scrape up the goo on the bottom cover plate of my NC-173, the 183D is a 173 on steroids. Then along came an NC-303 with a much better transformer, no drips. I guess you can see what I'm getting at, when you're sure what you've got there un-modify it, the 6W6s told me somebody didn't know what he was doing. Then there's something else to consider, The Boat Anchor Brigade's First Rule of Conduct, NEVER irreversibly modify a boat anchor. The reason is simple, that destroys the collector value even if it increases performance. You're restoring a fine receiver, don't make it cosmetic, finish it electrically.
Logged

73 de Warren KB2VXA
Station powered by atomic energy, operator powered by natural gas.
MikeKE0ZUinkcmo
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 444



« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2019, 07:10:04 AM »

There are two groups of numbers in the serial number;  XXX-YYYY.   The XXX group of numbers refer to what is called the "ER", or the Engineering Revision number.   This is the engineering design revision, to which the radio was produced.   You will also find the ER number at the lower right corner on the outside of the rear cover of the manual.

In the pics below the manual and the radio chassis are totally unrelated, they are simply for illustration.



Logged

Mike KE0ZU

Bold Text and PICS are usually links

https://mikeharrison.smugmug.com/
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands
 AMfone © 2001-2015
Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 0.057 seconds with 19 queries.