deaddds

To see if a radio is any good, can I jump it direct to a battery or car jumper box without damaging it? Not sure if it needs a regulator mixed in to not blow something. Thanks

Rocketowner

There wasn't a problem with that in the old tube type radios,because we mounted one in my shop years ago and powered it directly from a small battery charger.i It ran that way 6 days a week for years. I don't think it would damage the newer model type,because most are wired to be run on accessory position ,where the regulator would not be an issue. Good luck , Larry

mrolds69

You can hook it to a battery or power supply to test it. All you can find out is if the light goes on or not, and you have to double check to see if the bulb is good or not. DO NOT turn the volume up w/o a correct ohm speaker attached ( I think this can hurt some output deal in the radio) , and you really should have an antenna attached, too. I know nothing about tube radios, though!

MDchanic

Yes, the power is no problem, but, as noted, you need to use a GM 10Ω speaker, as their output transistors are finicky, and can burn up with inadequate resistance.

You can probably get away with an 8Ω speaker for brief testing at low volume, but do not use a 4Ω speaker.

And without an antenna, all you'll do is test the quality of the static.

- Eric

Rocketowner

The one that I spoke of in my other post had a car antenna plugged in and we used a car speaker (6x9) of the same era. Larry

oldcutlass

An 8 ohm speaker will work fine and you can use a coat hanger for an antenna hooked to the center of the antenna plug.

MDchanic

Yes, a coat hanger will do the job (scrape off the varnish where it makes contact).

- Eric

Rocketowner

Congratulations Eric.I thought only us"Country Boys" knew about using a metal coat hanger for an antenna. I've seen many around here that when they had a antenna broken off,would just wrap a coat hanger around the antenna base,and sometimes it would still be that way as long as the car would run. ( Hillbilly and proud).
Larry