1940's Radio Receiver Performance Check - RCA CR-88 With New Mica Capacitors!

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  • Опубліковано 4 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 179

  • @MrCarlsonsLab
    @MrCarlsonsLab  Рік тому +12

    To learn electronics in a very different and effective way, and gain access to Mr Carlson's personal designs and inventions, visit the Mr Carlson's Lab Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/MrCarlsonsLab

  • @josephsawicki9335
    @josephsawicki9335 Рік тому +49

    God I love your show Please some day have a history of MR Carlson from kid till now like when you started being interested in electronics Thanks mr Carlson

  • @c185pilot3
    @c185pilot3 Рік тому +1

    The restoration series is incredibly interesting and almost addictive...please continue with the restoration of these vintage receivers...the engineering is amazing for the times.

  • @davidlovering6033
    @davidlovering6033 Рік тому +5

    Loved the Steely Dan “FM” reference… “No static at all”. Thanks for a great channel!

  • @maryrafuse3851
    @maryrafuse3851 Рік тому +18

    Mr. Carlson is one incredible engineer, cool when it comes to all the antics of bad caps & resisters. With all his abilities he has the smooth voice of an old time broadcaster. And to cap it off he is proudly Canadian and gracious to all.

    • @SkyWire88
      @SkyWire88 Рік тому

      Thank you for the introduction, Mary

  • @michaelbishop3701
    @michaelbishop3701 Рік тому +1

    One of the most amazing things to me is the ability of the human brain, not mine, to learn how to understand and control electrons. More amazing than that is, the mental ability necessary to understand all of the components and HOW they channel electricity to other components, to achieve a desired task. To me, it's magic. My 67 year-old brain just can't absorb that much information. I've been a residential electrician and a commercial electrician and have built a few power supplies and Fuzz Boxes for my guitar back in the 70's. But, Magic needs Wizards. And you, my friend, are the Grand Wizard. Always amazed. Hope your channel does well.

  • @fawazalfridy5940
    @fawazalfridy5940 Рік тому +1

    As usual, beautiful things from history, as Mr. Carlson's creativity increases the beauty of these masterpieces touched by the hand of a genius. Greetings to you from Saudi Arabia👍

  • @CrispyCircuits
    @CrispyCircuits Рік тому +5

    Thank you. It was really neat to see some failed mica capacitors, especially since it was a big batch problem and how and what you used to test them. I'm 53 now and getting back into electronics again. I started by studying electronics when I was very young and my dad brought me a surplus shortwave receiver and transmitter that fit into a rack and was used by the military. All vacuum tube.😀

  • @GeigerCounterVirtualMuseum
    @GeigerCounterVirtualMuseum Рік тому +5

    Enjoying this series!

  • @coldfinger459sub0
    @coldfinger459sub0 Рік тому +2

    I wish there was a UA-cam with Mr. Carlson’s lab back in the 1970s. It would make my experiments with taking things apart as a child much more successful..

  • @kennethdegruchy5503
    @kennethdegruchy5503 Рік тому

    This video seems like a revelation to me especially since watching MCL's videos for years I became convinced the likelihood of finding bad classically color coded mica capacitors was highly unlikely and in most cases you did not have to consider replacing them with your refurbishing project. That thinking has now been dispelled and thank you to Mr. Carlson. Had to have been a faulty production run of these mica caps.

  • @KeritechElectronics
    @KeritechElectronics Рік тому +5

    Loveliness! I'll be on a lookout for bad mica caps, and the Heathkit signal tracer gave me an idea of hooking my regulated 100...300VDC supply through a resistor to the DUT, and using an amp/speaker for listening to what's happening there.

  • @Go4Corvette
    @Go4Corvette Рік тому +3

    Excellent work A+ Sr. Every time I watch these videos reminds me of my first class in Junior high and High school but your classes are at a much higher level. It wasn't till I went to GM advanced training schools that I learned more. I am trying to convince my son who is a computer science student graduating this year from Stanford University that he should subscribe to your classes and also learn how they work on the inside. Knowledge is power. Thank you, Mike

  • @metalbill
    @metalbill Рік тому +5

    31:14 that was WWVH in Hawai. Female voice on that one and male voice on WWV in Colorado. They also don't talk at the same time in case they get received simultaneously. So yes, that thing is receiving quite well indeed!!!

  • @Cyberplayer5
    @Cyberplayer5 Рік тому +1

    Watching you work on this receiver is very Zen.

  • @ПавелПопов-и1т
    @ПавелПопов-и1т Рік тому +1

    I just admire your work on the restoration of old equipment. 40 years ago I had an AR88, just an amazing radio. best regards ra3apq from Мoscow!

  • @terrym1065
    @terrym1065 Рік тому +10

    Another fantastic episode, thanks Mr C. Swapping the components totally enhanced the reception capability, just awesome. I can only imagine at this time just how good this receiver will operate when coils and alignment is final. Having the proper test equipment is obviously a necessity even if vintage, good stuff here. Well done sir, thanks again for a quality production.

  • @gerardcorcoran-m4m
    @gerardcorcoran-m4m Рік тому +4

    Excellent Video Mr.Carlson, I enjoyed watching you today and can't wait for the next part.Thank you for sharing you knowledge with all of us.

  • @RestorationsbyKennyFidler
    @RestorationsbyKennyFidler Рік тому +2

    Glad You’re Back!

  • @littlebear5219
    @littlebear5219 Рік тому

    You have opened my eye’s with to all the faults with. Capacitor’s.

  • @donl1846
    @donl1846 Рік тому +3

    Way to go Professor Carlson, it is amazing with some tweaking how good a radio can sound. Look forward when you do the final tuning-up and see what happens. Thank you for sharing.

  • @cfcreative1
    @cfcreative1 Рік тому

    nice to shine a light on a historic piece of gear

  • @faxcapper
    @faxcapper Рік тому +1

    Those 2 RCAs are simply gorgeous!!!

  • @Greg-et2dp
    @Greg-et2dp Рік тому

    Mr Carlsons lab you are good at restoring vintage shortwave receivers and alignment of vintage shortwave receivers

  • @leonardpeters3266
    @leonardpeters3266 Рік тому +4

    Nice work. I know how hard it is to work in those areas. Brutal. Nice work there.

  • @LarryDeSilva64
    @LarryDeSilva64 Рік тому +3

    I must say you do have an interesting way of testing for noise with those Mica capacitors. Really good to know when I am working on a noisy receiver I will look for that as well as dried out Electrolytic capacitors and checking tolerance on resistors as well as checking caps for leakage. Thanks for another informative video Paul.

  • @Greg-et2dp
    @Greg-et2dp Рік тому

    Mr Carlsons lab your vintage RCA cr-88 communication receiver is awesome 👌 👏 👍 🎉😊

  • @ariedekker7350
    @ariedekker7350 Рік тому +1

    Nicely done. Nice video. The PE1KRX was QRV for VE7ZWZ and sends you the best of the seventy threes. Thank you and see you next time.

  • @nathkrupa3463
    @nathkrupa3463 Рік тому +2

    Great engineer Mr Carlson sir you are awesome Thanks for the sharing this video sir ❤.

  • @Chris_at_Home
    @Chris_at_Home Рік тому

    That’s some old stuff. I worked in a TV repair shop in high school in 1969-1970. Then in the Navy on P-3s we had old and new electronics equipment. They taught us both tubes and transistors in A school. I think I have an old airplane radio around that I had in a small plane I had with all the discreet components. Circuit boards sure changed everything. It’s amazing how they put these together versus todays electronics.
    All those capacitors being bad makes me wonder if it didn’t take some kind of real high voltage hit. Something in the few thousand voltage range.

  • @MrDoneboy
    @MrDoneboy Рік тому +2

    Great job as usual, Paul. 80 year old radio receiver, sounds great...will sound awesome after the tuning!

  • @johnwaterman1579
    @johnwaterman1579 Рік тому

    nice review... I have no idea how to do this... but I learn something every time.

  • @derlowe4590
    @derlowe4590 Рік тому +2

    Nice to see you. Good wishes for Easter!

  • @mikefinn2101
    @mikefinn2101 Рік тому +1

    Amazing Engibeer love these videos learn so much Paul is the best of the best number 1 teacher on you tube

  • @Davidjb37721
    @Davidjb37721 Рік тому +1

    Thanks for your time

  • @alamoaudio
    @alamoaudio Рік тому +5

    Really impressive knowledge, love this channel even though all this sounds like obscure sorcery to me

  • @Greg-et2dp
    @Greg-et2dp Рік тому

    Mr Carlsons lab I love the RCA CR-88 communication receiver ❤🎉😊😊😊❤😊

  • @hugoromeyn4582
    @hugoromeyn4582 Рік тому

    That capacitor at 10:00m sounds like listening the HF bands during a thunderstorm!

  • @JCWise-sf9ww
    @JCWise-sf9ww Рік тому

    Mr Carson is a very skilled electronics technician/engineer. I'm looking forward how well this receiver can pull in distant AM broadcast and shortwave stations after he gets all restoration done and completely aligned.

  • @washerdryeradvicechannel8041
    @washerdryeradvicechannel8041 Рік тому +2

    Thanks for sharing Mr

  • @johnparichuk8367
    @johnparichuk8367 Рік тому

    I just brought a 1934 Silvertone Model 1806 back to life. The mica capacitors are original and in excellent condition. I usually buy radios that are in pretty bad shape that no one else will touch. I like the challenge.

  • @PeterMilanovski
    @PeterMilanovski Рік тому

    Is it just me, is there anyone else who loves doing something pointless like watching old capacitors being tested?
    I know well enough all the ways that capacitors fail and watching someone test old capacitors that I'm possibly never going to come across to test myself gives me so much satisfaction and yet I don't know why?

  • @Steve-GM0HUU
    @Steve-GM0HUU Рік тому +1

    👍Thank you for the video.

  • @rl2109
    @rl2109 Рік тому +2

    A very interesting video!

  • @graemebrumfitt6668
    @graemebrumfitt6668 Рік тому +1

    This is gonna be brutal when finished Paul! Stay safe n well. TFS, GB :)

  • @UKDrew
    @UKDrew Рік тому

    Awesome as Always... As A Newbie,im really loving this series.Thank you

  • @PE1FWD
    @PE1FWD Рік тому +1

    I am waiting for the racal ra17, i have had one for a nummer of years and worked with it in my navytime as a radiotech.

  • @jazbell7
    @jazbell7 Рік тому +3

    Those mica caps were probably quiet for the first 40 years of life. But now it's almost 80 years.

  • @jeffminnick5209
    @jeffminnick5209 Рік тому +1

    Once again a great video Paul, hope your Easter went well and keep up the great work... looking forward to the Racal and the Collins as well !!!
    73 WD8JM

  • @johnopalko5223
    @johnopalko5223 Рік тому +2

    31:15 That was WWVH. That's pretty impressive reception.

    • @JohnShalamskas
      @JohnShalamskas Рік тому +1

      I noticed that too. Probably 10 or 15 MHz if it was daytime in Hawaii and Canada.

  • @Greg-et2dp
    @Greg-et2dp Рік тому

    Mr Carlsons lab your utube videos are awesome 👌 👏 👍 🎉😊

  • @JohnAlexanderBerry
    @JohnAlexanderBerry Рік тому +1

    It's a big job to change all those capacitors (plus those resistors), but it's something that has to be done !
    I'm going to do a similar thing to my 1947 AWA receiver, but it should be a lot easier to do compared to that receiver you have there !

  • @josealfredoalcoviadebarcel4633

    The mica capacitors inside de FI cans were bad too, on my AR88. They were mica too, but had leakage. Noise I had not tested. I think that noise and leakage are “sisters”, or the same gost. After changing them and doing the right FI alignment, the receiver operates in a very great condition. Astonishing condition, to be more precise. Greetings from the south of Brazil. 0:08

  • @alandrury9955
    @alandrury9955 Рік тому

    Great job sir. Really enjoying this series

  • @craigmose5898
    @craigmose5898 Рік тому +1

    Could explain in one of your videos what B+ is in the tube radios...
    Thank you and I really enjoy your videos...

  • @toddsculley2710
    @toddsculley2710 Рік тому

    Love watching

  • @hestheMaster
    @hestheMaster Рік тому +1

    The B+ Voltage on those old mica caps really wore them out. Seems they may have been from the same manufacturer.
    Guess we can call it Micamold disease. Great restoration series there with you as a teacher Paul. Time consuming repairs
    ( from unfortunate surprises) edited for sanity reasons no doubt and more repairs to come before aligning it. Can't wait!

  • @tomharris1457
    @tomharris1457 Рік тому

    Nice ! Getting there.

  • @mikesmithg0rfd356
    @mikesmithg0rfd356 Рік тому +1

    thank you

  • @nathanokun8801
    @nathanokun8801 Рік тому

    In following your channel, I find it interesting how many functions, sometimes simultaneously, capacitors are used for. Before IC components were introduced, capzcitors were the m9st versatile components in any electric, to say nothing about electronic, devices constructed.

    • @analogaudiorules1724
      @analogaudiorules1724 Рік тому

      They still are.... Look up surface mount capacitors and also ic lithography

  • @W1RMD
    @W1RMD Рік тому +1

    I hope you and your family had a great Easter. Great video!
    I am curious how the mica's would test using your Carlson capacitor tester. I would also like to see you use the super probe the way you use the Heathkit signal tracer. I would assume that if you put high voltage on that mica it would make noise that the super probe or audio amplifier could pick up. Taking precautions with high voltage involved and using a .01 capacitor between the DUT and the amplifier if that is your weapon of choice. Although, no direct contact is need, even with most audio amplifiers.
    Also, Shango66 has some really cool night vision video of "silver mica disease" in action.
    Thanks again for doing the restoration video series on this beautiful receiver and piece of history!

  • @kellyblack4897
    @kellyblack4897 Рік тому +1

    "So not too bad on that one. But, of course I'd never trust it! Alright?" - Mr. Carlson

  • @MrDoneboy
    @MrDoneboy Рік тому

    Wow..."Bath Tub Capacitors"..."Silver Mica Disease"...of course we've heard that one before, but...You go, Paul! Lol.

  • @daveturner5305
    @daveturner5305 Рік тому +3

    Sir, you mentioned that the 47k screen resistors were factory. If I've understood you correctly then you have another otherwise identical receiver with 33k standard factory resistors. Would it not have been more interesting to restore both as factory and then compare their performance, assuming all else is equal? Or have I missed a point?

  • @rsdandy
    @rsdandy Рік тому

    Great video. Learning a lot.

  • @xe1zlgg
    @xe1zlgg 11 місяців тому

    May be les overload on extreme large antennas.... congrats for your video...

  • @JohnShalamskas
    @JohnShalamskas Рік тому

    The lower gain on the RF amps might have been chosen due to the receivers being used near high power transmitters. Lower gain in the front end would reduce gain compression in the presence of strong signals.

  • @christophermarshall5765
    @christophermarshall5765 Рік тому +1

    Great job. I’ve never heard such noisy capacitors before.

  • @ch2o2
    @ch2o2 Рік тому +1

    ..love your noise sniffer. As far as I understand, the device basically only applies clean DC voltage to the component and at the same time sniffs out any minimal voltage drops (cracks) that may be present via a coupling capacitor. How high is the voltage that is applied to the components in this method? I already had transistors and OPs that caused similar cracking ...is it possible to test semiconductors with this device?

  • @spudhead169
    @spudhead169 Рік тому

    You've just given me an idea. Those faulty caps might be a good way to produce entropy in things that usually have trouble generating it like servers.

    • @analogaudiorules1724
      @analogaudiorules1724 Рік тому

      Not a good idea.... All it takes is for one up completely short and then take out something irreplaceable, if its more that25 to 30 years old and an oil filled electrolytic or more modern electrolytic, it's gotta go...

  • @migsvensurfing6310
    @migsvensurfing6310 Рік тому +4

    Noisy capacitor = perfect random generator.

  • @no_more_free_nicks
    @no_more_free_nicks Рік тому

    Those caps would make great components in random number generators.

  • @afnDavid
    @afnDavid Рік тому +1

    Perhaps they wanted slightly less gain/sensitivity because the receiver was used with a multi-coupler which had gain of its own.

  • @frankschultz4170
    @frankschultz4170 Рік тому

    I ALWAYS replace paper caps. Good luck on finding new bathtubs! Do you have a calibrated RF signal generator or service monitor so that you can make sensitivity measurements? It would have been interesting to make before and after measurements in the capacitor replacements.

  • @felixcosty
    @felixcosty Рік тому

    Thanks for the video.
    Just wondering could the non standard resisters have been put in, because the caps where bad and that was there sort of fix?

  • @frankowalker4662
    @frankowalker4662 Рік тому +3

    I don't think much of the Quality Control at the factory that made those caps.
    The lighter coloured cap that was fine might have already been a replacement.

  • @mrb.5610
    @mrb.5610 Рік тому +2

    I wonder if a thoughtful replacement of any old carbon composition resistors would help with the signal to noise ratio as well ?
    I replaced the resistors with metal film ones on an audio amplifier years ago and the background 'hiss' virtually disappeared !

    • @MrCarlsonsLab
      @MrCarlsonsLab  Рік тому

      Carbon composition resistors are quiet as well, there are just a lot of noisy ones out there to confuse. For example, My Fluke 5440B Calibrator has many carbon comp resistors in it. Your amplifier that had a hiss issue probably had a noisy resistor, replacing that resistor with a new carbon comp would have resulted in the same outcome that you have now.

  • @kellyblack4897
    @kellyblack4897 Рік тому

    With all that noise I couldn't hear the caps! Maybe we should test them again? 😂

  • @utubejeffo
    @utubejeffo Рік тому +1

    Where do you source those Allen Bradley-style resistors?? All I can find are metal-film resistors from the "orient." I'm looking forward already to the next receiver renovation. Thanks! 73 Jeff

  • @inspector1794
    @inspector1794 Рік тому +1

    I'm enjoying this series.
    Too bad that you have to sacrifice what appears to be a fairly complete radio to fix this one or did I miss how bad the donor really is.
    Are the needed coils something you could fabricate?
    Cracked and broken glass and dials look like an opportunity to learn about 3D printing, laser engraving, stencil cutting etc.
    Thanks for sharing your hobbies, skills and knowledge.

  • @erikdenhouter
    @erikdenhouter Рік тому

    It would be nice to see these mica caps under a microscope, to see if there are cracks in it where the atmosphere can get in, and compared with a good one.

  • @davidsanderson625
    @davidsanderson625 Рік тому

    Thank you for a fabulous series of videos. Could it be that the radio was operated in a high humidity environment that caused the mica capacitors to fail?

  • @benrasmussen9878
    @benrasmussen9878 Рік тому

    Hello
    I was wondering if large test tubes are available, like the ones you have shown inside large transmitters?
    Im looking for a tube that will work like a continuous doide.
    Thanks
    0

  • @JeffreyGroves
    @JeffreyGroves Рік тому +2

    I've never tried it, but I was wondering if a windshield repair kit might be able to hide the crack in the glass.

  • @number6of1
    @number6of1 Рік тому

    Enjoying the channel, makes me want to get back to restoring old radios (and by old, I mean around my age ;) or older)
    Where do you find these gems? Fleebay, swap meets?

  • @andrewholden5900
    @andrewholden5900 Рік тому

    Im curious, what would you consider the most difficult restoration youve done at this point? After watching your videos, it looked like that 1939 supreme vedolyzer was a real challenge. That thing just falls apart without the faceplate

  • @acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE
    @acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE Рік тому

    Fine business, thanks! Your way of teaching and detailed shots are really helping me as I have 4 AR88s to check through. As you say, a bad batch of caps, I wonder if the one of a slightly different colour was a different batch or a replacement for a previous failure?

  • @davidstone1579
    @davidstone1579 Рік тому

    This gain reduction is probably because it was a multi-receiver installation with a front end aerial amplifier / distribution driving the all. This was quite common with Government listening posts. G8FNR.

  • @JMOUC265
    @JMOUC265 Рік тому

    To take the bad mica caps scenario one step farther, how about determining the date code and root cause of the failures, and who was in charge of outgoing quality at the manufacturer back in that time frame? Wouldn't it be a hoot to find someone still alive who might recall the situation? 😄

  • @markanderson350
    @markanderson350 Рік тому

    I used to have a signal tracer with noise function, i never used. I think a Heath it 12. I never knew these could crap out like that, i am restoring an old hallicrafters sx-42 and did not. Change the micas. It is similar to your set. But has fm. I dont know about screen resistors, my radio has 56k

  • @BretFrohwein
    @BretFrohwein Рік тому

    Regarding the Faceplate. Have you considered a repro from Radiodaze? They're a bit pricey but not scratched. you'd need to transplant the RCA logo button but theirs has the holes to accommodate it.

  • @DJW1959Aus
    @DJW1959Aus Рік тому

    Perhaps a very low viscosity UV cured bonding resin agent could seal and mend that dial cover crack to invisibility (as used to fill windscreen cracks).

  • @AlfDavidFjeld
    @AlfDavidFjeld Рік тому

    can you not take of the scaleglass and scan it in to your pc, in several parts if it is to long for one scan, and then fix up the image in software to remove any problems, and then make a new one yourself, or have someone else make it from the fixed up scans?

  • @richardsmith7783
    @richardsmith7783 Рік тому

    Hello? i have watched 20 or more videos of your and i though you would be the best person to ask! I Am making a crystal radio, And i have watched 10 or 20 videos how they work and how to make them. I seen this one video ( that i can't find now ) How can i fix something to move the wiper for the coil by using a knob to turn and move the wiper? I'm not going to use a variable capacitor only the wiper but i need to move it by turning a knob.

  • @haraldlonn898
    @haraldlonn898 Рік тому +1

    I wonder was these MICA caps bad from start or they got bad over time.

  • @sincerelyyours7538
    @sincerelyyours7538 Рік тому

    A fantastic episode, as usual, Paul! I'm curious about how those mica caps failed. Do they arc internally causing the frying eggs sound? Can you see burn marks in the one cap that you opened up to show us? Can you see evidence of what the manufacturing defect was that caused them to fail? Thanks for all you do!

  • @mikedfgfj
    @mikedfgfj Рік тому

    Hello Mr. Carlson. Where is the old Agilent DMM with orange pixel screen? This LCD model is booring. Mastech LCR tester? Why not using ESI 2100? Watched your every video, great work against planned obsolescence :)

  • @tubbysailor
    @tubbysailor Рік тому

    What wears out inside and is it arcing that produces the noise? Thanks.

  • @mikethompson2593
    @mikethompson2593 Рік тому

    How does RF noise and pulses affect your measurements?

  • @dougkathydavies3024
    @dougkathydavies3024 Рік тому

    I have an AR-88LF. What type of capacitor should I use to replace the old mica ones in this radio?