11 Set stuff

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

that is a 11 set test meter . nice find. was it in Aust. ?

I thought these were standard British Army wireless Voltmeters and suitable for a whole range of radios, not specifically the WS11.

What makes it just for the WS11 please?

I have the case... looking for the meter.

Thanks

Tim

[cletrac (RIP)]

Those volt meters were made for the 11 set but their use likely continued after the 11 set wasn't used any more. The one I bought says 1943 and the 11 set had been long discontinued in the UK by then.
I got the counterpoise in the mail today. It's quite a bit smaller than I thought it was. The wires are insulated too so how does that do any grounding? You must have to push the grey end of the bobbins into the dirt.
The remote unit serial numbers go to about 18000. I'm starting to think this includes ones from the various countries since they all have the same ZA number. The remotes just went in wireless trucks and not AFVs. This means around 9000 trucks of various makes and all would likely have had charging switchboards. Does my reasoning make sense?
On the bonding straps topic they stopped a lot of static on the radio. Also, when they were using the truck itself for the aerial ground, would they not ensure better aerial functioning?

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

I thought these were standard British Army wireless Voltmeters and suitable for a whole range of radios, not specifically the WS11.

What makes it just for the WS11 please?

I have the case... looking for the meter.

Thanks

Tim

It's that well known item, the "multipurpose part" and was used with a lot of sets.

It's Voltmeter, Pocket, 250 Volt, No.2 ZA.7372 and the matching case is ZA.7369.
They were standard issue for testing HT and LT batteries, plus valve electrode voltages on sets such as the R107 that has a test panel fitted to the front. (Also for general faultfinding on sets like the R109.) They are not a particularly brilliant meter for this purpose, having a sensitivity of 500 ohms per volt, and at one point there was a shortage of suitable meter movements which led to the issue of the Voltmeter. Pocket, 250 Volt No.3 with 350 ohms per volt sensitivity, and correction tables for various working instructions with the corresponding (lower, due to the extra circuit load) "nominal" readings when testing the set.

They turn up at amateur radio rallies fairly regularly in the UK, and tend to be dismissed as "useless junk" and are therefore cheap. Unfortunately the plastic (celluloid?) windows tend to degrade and make it difficult to use - though it's not difficult to replace them with a piece of sheet perspex/plexiglas of suitable thickness.

Chris

[Mike K]

Those meters with the test probe directly mounted on the meter , are primarily meant to used with a test panel . I cannot imagine anyone using those meters by placing the meter and its probe directly onto the valve sockets , which are mostly inaccessible and surrounded by wiring and other components . Most of the smaller valves I've seen have the anode pin on the base , the cap is , if present , is usually the control grid . I think a multimeter would be of more use for servicing wireless sets . The famous AVO meter perhaps ?

I only know of the 11 set having a test panel . The R107 sets are just not seen over here .

BTW the Australian version of that meter was made for the 11 set specifically . The Aust. meter isn't listed in any other wireless set parts list as far as I know .

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Those meters with the test probe directly mounted on the meter , are primarily meant to used with a test panel . I cannot imagine anyone using those meters by placing the meter and its probe directly onto the valve sockets , which are mostly inaccessible and surrounded by wiring and other components . Most of the smaller valves I've seen have the anode pin on the base , the cap is , if present , is usually the control grid . I think a multimeter would be of more use for servicing wireless sets . The famous AVO meter perhaps ?

I only know of the 11 set having a test panel . The R107 sets are just not seen over here .

BTW the Australian version of that meter was made for the 11 set specifically . The Aust. meter isn't listed in any other wireless set parts list as far as I know .

Hmmm...

Having just looked at the R107 working instructions it gives the expected cathode voltages using an Avo Model 7, so you may be right on that score - I remain convinced that the R109 was issued with the pocket voltmeter for faultfinding, but the voltages were measured on an internal tagboard; I shall have to dig for that manual.

My WS11 manuals list the pocket voltmeter and its case, with a footnote stating "Normally carried in Cases, Spare Parts, No.5B". The manual is dated 22nd Nov 1939 and internally notes"January 1939, amended 20th January 1939, revised and reprinted 10th February 1939". It has an addendum sheet in the back that shows the pocket voltmeters to be worse than I first thought! (23rd November 1940) ...it has become necessary to decrease the resistance of the Voltmeter, Pocket, No.2 from approximately 300 ohms to 125 ohms. The new type of voltmeter will be designated Voltmeter, Pocket, No.3...

It then gives a table showing the different readings for each test point if the No.3 is used.

The pocket voltmeter may well have been introduced for the W.S.11, but I suspect it was found to be a very useful tool and found its way into a lot of kit.

Earlier sets (W.S.1 and W/T sets (various)) had "Voltmeter, Pocket, 'x' Volts", where 'x' was specific to the set (6 volt or 60 volt, etc.).

Chris.
[1] On which note, Plate 13 looks quite legible and it might be possible to transcribe the text on the R.H. door of the charging switchboard.

[cletrac (RIP)]

The bottom 3/4 of the instructions are word for word from the WS 11 manual. The top paragraph is a bit harder.

Switchboard Charging No 1
WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
The switchboard No 1 is connected to the
wireless set no 11 by means of the two wire
"plug-socket" provided. The leads from the
switchboard charging terminals should be
connected to the battery pole leg , ????? taking
care that the polarity is correct. The batteries
should be connected to the switchboard by the
leads and "Niphon" plugs supplied.

I'm unsure of the italics and the question marks.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by cletrac

The bottom 3/4 of the instructions are word for word from the WS 11 manual. The top paragraph is a bit harder.

Switchboard Charging No 1
???? INSTRUCTIONS
The switchboard No 1 is connected to the
wireless set no 11 by means of the two wire
"plug-socket" provided. The leads from the
switchboard charging terminals should be
connected to the battery pole leg , ????? taking
care that the polarity is correct. The batteries
should be connected to the switchboard by the
leads and "Niphon" plugs supplied.

I'm unsure of the italics and the question marks.

I do have a couple of WW2 Niphan plugs , the British ones - they do plug into my ww2 British batteries . I should do a drawing of the plugs . I believe the company is still making plugs NIPHAN in the uk .

BTW the Aust. WW2 era niphan plugs are different, they will not plug into the British sockets . My 1943 dated British battery box drawings are on this forum somewhere .

I found those WW2 wireless set acid batteries out in hughes yard Coburg .

This guy has a niphan plug , and that test meter as well .

http://www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/foru...p?f=42&t=76556

[cletrac (RIP)]

I picked up some stuff in town to reproduce a switchboard. The panel piece is 12" square and the sides are 3" deep. I guessed that the panel is recessed 3/4" and went from there.
The toggles on the switches are the same size and shape as an ordinary household light switch. The bolts that hold the cover plate to the switch are the same spacing as the top switches on the switchboard. Some hardware strap hinges are the proper size too.
I ordered some nylon shoulder washers and knurled thumb nuts off ebay and am watching for some 25 amp or volt gauges to show up. There's quite a few outfits that made analog gauges that would work.
The terminals for attaching wires are 1/4" NC by the look of it.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

The bottom 3/4 of the instructions are word for word from the WS 11 manual. The top paragraph is a bit harder.

Switchboard Charging No 1
WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
The switchboard No 1 is connected to the
wireless set no 11 by means of the two wire
"plug-socket" provided. The leads from the
switchboard charging terminals should be
connected to the battery pole leg , ????? taking
care that the polarity is correct. The batteries
should be connected to the switchboard by the
leads and "Niphon" plugs supplied.

I'm unsure of the italics and the question marks.

The unclear part reads "Carbon Pile Regulator".

It's also "Niphan" with a 'a' (but you have to know that in advance (grin)).

Niphan connectors are still in production, but the modern ones are either plastic or stainless steel, I think. (Also the company is only interested in large commercial orders and Defence contracts, and completely uninterested in sales to the general public.)

Chris.